Ayodhya, March 28 A major fire broke out at the venue of a 'yagya' organized by Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh in Ayodhya on Saturday, police said.
No casualties were reported in the incident, they said.
Local participants in the rituals said the fire started when coconuts offered during the yagya – a ritual in which ghee, herbs, and other offerings are placed in a consecrated fire – suddenly caught fire.
According to the police, the Shri Lakshminarayan Mahayagya was organized by Singh on the occasion of Ram Navami. The yagya hall was located about 800 meters from the Ram temple.
Eyewitnesses said the flames spread rapidly, engulfing the main yagya hall (offering area) within moments and triggering panic among the devotees present at the ceremony.
Nearly a dozen fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control.
In a statement, Singh said, "A fire suddenly broke out in the yagya hall. The fire brigade was already deployed there and it helped bring the blaze under control. There has been no loss of life and the situation is now under control."
Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover said the fire was quickly contained and confirmed that no casualties were reported.
Officials sources said that 1,251 havan kunds had been set up at the yagya hall on the banks of the Saryu River, where the final day of the mahayagya was being held.
A large number of devotees were present when the fire broke out, but they were safely evacuated from the pandal, the police said.