Overview
- The blaze ignited before dawn near Bathing Ghat No. 2, racing through closely packed cane‑grass shanties built for the pilgrimage.
- Temporary facilities for police, the state information and culture department, media enclosures, voluntary groups and the Bajrang Dal were among those damaged.
- Two fire engines and five firefighting motorcycles responded, but strong winds, flammable materials and the island’s remoteness hindered operations.
- Firefighters brought the situation under control and conducted cooling, with teams remaining on site to monitor for hidden hotspots.
- A preliminary probe points to an electrical short circuit while officials also examine a possible cooking spark, and reconstruction of damaged huts is underway.