Koenjhar: Ten shops were reduced to ashes after a massive fire broke out near Ghatagaon Maa Tarini Temple in Odisha’s Keonjhar district late on Tuesday.
According to sources, the gutted shops were mostly make-shift structure, meant for selling ‘prasad’, other ‘puja’ items and stationary products. The fire is said to have originated from a shop near Gate No 2 of the shrine and spread to the adjacent ones.
On being informed, fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and doused the blaze before it could engulf more shops in the vicinity. There are nearly 200 to 250 shops around the temple.
The cause of the fire, which occurred around 1.30 am to 2 am, is yet to be ascertained. Since these shops did not have electricity connection, so chances of fire originating from a short circuit has been ruled out.
Ghatgaon Police are investigating to ascertain if the blaze was accidental or handiwork of some anti-socials.
However, this is not the first time that a blaze razed makeshift shops near the temple. In October last, four shops were reduced to ashes too.
