A tent erected to protect devotees from the scorching heat caught fire at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Baba Deep Singh here on Wednesday. This was the second mishap reported at the shrine in the past four days.
Earlier, on Sunday, the shuttering of the langar hall at the same gurdwara had collapsed, killing two women and injuring nine other devotees who were meditating at the shrine.
A sewadar, Gurdial Singh, who was present when the fire broke out, said the incident occurred so suddenly that everyone at the spot was left shocked. He said nearly 40 devotees from the sangat immediately volunteered to help bring the fire under control.
He added that had the devotees not responded promptly, the consequences could have been disastrous. Though the incident triggered panic among devotees, many joined the sewadars in extinguishing the flames.
The tent, set up within the gurdwara premises, caught fire in the afternoon, sending thick smoke billowing into the air. The flames spread rapidly, causing panic among those present. Devotees inside the premises were immediately evacuated to safer locations.
Volunteers and sewadars tried to douse the fire using buckets of water and rubber pipes connected to taps. Owing to their prompt response, the fire was brought completely under control within a short time. No casualties were reported in the incident.
After the fire was extinguished, the gurdwara administration immediately began cleaning the affected area. Burnt tents were removed and new tents were erected to ensure convenience for the sangat and maintain the dignity and smooth functioning of the shrine.
According to preliminary reports, the fire was caused by a short circuit in the electrical wiring.
