TIRUMALA, DECMBER 8
A fire incident was reported in the laddu making unit (Boondi Potu) of the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD) on Sunday afternoon. This is the fourth such incident at this kitchen in the last four years, temple sources said.
The workers who were inside the unit witnessed the fire and came out of the campus for safety. The unit is located on the northern side of the temple.
As the unit is located in the vicinity of the temple, panic triggered among the devotees who had thronged the temple for dharshan of Lord Venkateswara Swamy.
Huge quantities of ghee, besan flour and other food items are used to make the famed Tirumala laddus. The laddus are made in conditions of very high temperatures and since ghee, which is, inflammable could have fuelled fire to broke out.
Fire engines have been rushed to the place and the fire fighting personnel are in the process of putting out the fire.
TTD officials said that the additional boondi potu located outside the temple will be given a face lift soon with fire safety features. Fire mishaps have been happening in this kitchen since 2016 every year but no preventive steps have yet been taken, said a devotee.
“The accident might have occurred due to a short circuit; the fire easily spreads to the walls which have deposits of ghee used for preparation of laddu,” an official said.
