As per civil and municipal laws all public places where people gather in large number must have proper fire safety precautions. Particularly, high rise buildings, malls, etc., must have proper Fire Escape Route.
Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, fire mishap, 2018.oneindia.com
A New Indian Express article published in 2018 observed that many places of worship particularly temples do not have safety devices in place in case of fire. It is quite disappointing that the world famous temple the 11th century Chola monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thanjavur Big temple, though well-maintained by the ASI lacks on-site fire-fighting equipment. So is the popular Madurai Meenakshi temple where the fire mishap in 2018 took the country by storm. Another sad commentary is many temples do not have fire-hydrant near the main shrine or in a vantage place from which fire fighters could draw water to put out the fire. Temple water tank is not the right answer for the solution. In western counties in all cities and small towns almost all streets may have 3 or 4 fire-hydrants at street corners with red or green paint on them for contingency purpose in case of fire. But, in our country we just don't give serious attention to fire hydrants at vulnerable places.
Many famous temples in Tamil Nadu and other states lack emergency exits, a proper well-planned escape route with a sketch map at various places in the temple. Mention may be made of Ranganathar temple, Srirangam, Sri Villiputhur Andal temple and Thiruchendur Murugan temple that need proper FER (fire escape route). It is also true of numerous medium sized temples. The Covid threats having come down, the temples and other places of worship, of late, are crowded with people, as they need a break from the monotonous life. It is time for the govt. authorities to chalk out proper plan and come up with fire-safety precautions. This preplanned preauction will help them a lot if an emergency situation arises.
Thanjavur Big temple:
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| Thanjavur big temple. trekearth.com |
Some temples like the Big temple in Thanjavur has one entry and exit gate in the inner part just like box canyon - one way in and same way out. This is also true of Sankaranarayanan temple on West main street near Sivaganga Poonga and of Kaliaperumal kovil on South main street. With one entry and exit gate, many Tamil Nadu temples face similar risk unless all cardinal gates are open. In may temples only one entry gate is open because of threats from terrorists.
At the Thanjavur big temple side gates on the north and south are closed for safety precaution. During pradosham the main entrance (east facing) is cramped with devotees as the exit via the Sivaganga park area is closed. In the main shrine of Peruvudaiyar, the long mandapa has various wooden vahana for festival occasions, but the hall does not have a single fire extinguisher. The Amman sannidhi temple kitchen‘-Madapalli’ and also Subramanyar sannidhi lack fire fighting equipment.
When the fire broke out way back on June 7, 1997, on the eve of the Kumbabhishekam that resulted in the death of 55 people. it was a scary experience for those who were trapped inside. The primary cause of death was due to stampede in the narrow entrance more than a fire. Reason: Fire cracker lit near the temple fell on the yagasala, a temporary structure built to conduct ritual ceremonies. There were as many as 120 pundits conducting the rituals. Fire began to spread quickly on the dry thatched roof - pandal. At the only East facing exit gate, panic-stricken people surged causing stampede.
Madurai Meenakshi temple fire mishap 2018:
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| Meenaskshi temple fire mishap. scroll.in |
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| Madurai Meenakshi temple, North tower. scroll.in |
The unexpected fire mishap of 2018 at Madurai temple near the entrance of East Tower served as a warning for the temple administration across the state. Countless shops on the temple premises posed a threat to the temple's safety in terms of fire hazard and theft of idols. The explanation from HR & CE the granite structures are not prone to major fire hazard is unacceptable. Post the fire accident, the Madurai temple administration had not permitted the setting up of shops near the temple entrance and completely removed all the shops in the temples. In and around Madurai at many temples Fire extinguishers are fixed at the selected places.
Thrissur Poorum Featival 2005
Because of poor regulations governing lighting of fire crackers during festival time, the fire mishap at the Thrissur Pooram festival on April 10, 2016 at Puttingal temple, Kerala resulted in the death of 100 and more than 200 people were injured. Stray fireworks at the festivities sparked blasts.
Stampede Mandher Devi temple, Wai, in Maharashtra, 2005:
At some temples the historical mantabas are being misused as a sort of dumping place unwanted stuff. According to a ground report by The New Indian Express, published soon after the fire accident at the Madurai temple in 2018, the fire safety measures in the Kanchipuram Ekambareshwarar temple are inadequate and poor. “Unused wood, bundles of ropes, piles of logs, broken chariots, empty cans and broken electrical appliances are stacked haphazardly in an empty mandapam at the entrance of Ekambareshwarar temple in Kanchipuram. Electrical cables creep on the walls or hang loosely out of a broken switchboard. The temple is perhaps the perfect stage for a dangerous fire accident,” the report read
The temple authorities need to consider the following to avoid fire hazard and occurrence of stampede on crowded days:
01. In popular and crowded temples on festival days there is a need to have separate entry and exit gates to have smooth flow of pilgrims.
02. Besides, there must be an escape route or gate in the inner shrine near the sanctum.
03. Adequate fire extinguishers are to be fixed at vulnerable places in the temple, particularly in the kitchen - madapalli. .
04 Periodic checking of electrical/ power lines is a must.
04. at most historical temples the gate is not wide enough for the entry of fire trucks. Temple make some kind of provision for the entry fire trucks so that they can get into the temple and do their job without any difficulties. Of course, this can be done without compromising on heritage aspects.
05. Regardless of temple tanks at vantage places in the temples fire hydrants must be fixed for accessing water.
06. Most importantly unwanted stuff like wooden logs, ropes, etc., must be kept in a shed or place away from the temple. At many temples the festival Vahanas plus huge wooden poles are kept in the mantap. A few years ago at Mahalingeswarar temple Thiruvidaimaruthur, near Kumbakonam I myself saw them dumped on one side of the hall.
07.In case of overcrowding during festival times to avoid stampede and injuries the crowd can be controlled with the help of police.
