Thirteen people sustained injuries following a fire that erupted in the inner sanctum of Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday, March 25. The incident occurred around 5:50 am during the transition from the 'bhasma aarti' to the 'kapur aarti' as part of the Holi celebrations.

All the injured individuals have been taken to the district hospital for treatment, with eight of them later transferred to Indore. Neeraj Kumar Singh, the District Collector, confirmed the details, mentioning that a thorough investigation into the matter has been initiated.

Expressing concern, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that necessary assistance is being provided to those affected by the unfortunate incident. Similarly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated his involvement in assessing the situation and coordinating support efforts with the local administration.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described the incident as regrettable and affirmed his constant communication with the authorities since the morning. He conveyed prayers for the speedy recovery of all the injured individuals.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out amidst the throwing of 'gulal' (colored powder) as part of a religious ritual. An official inquiry has been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire.

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