Thirteen tents erected by the Punjab Government to accommodate pilgrims visiting Anandpur Sahib under the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Scheme were destroyed in a fire on Monday morning, though no loss of life or injuries were reported.
The incident occurred around 9 am in Agampur village, near Anandpur Sahib in Ropar district. According to sources, the tents formed part of a temporary accommodation facility created by the government for pilgrims arriving in the holy town.
Sources said nearly 250 tents had been set up at the site to house devotees visiting Anandpur Sahib under the state-sponsored pilgrimage programme. The fire engulfed 13 tents, reducing them to ashes within a short span. However, a major tragedy was averted as the pilgrims staying in the affected tents had reportedly vacated them about half an hour before the blaze broke out.
Firefighters and local administration officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident and succeeded in bringing the blaze under control before it spread further to the remaining tents.
Confirming the incident, Anandpur Sahib SDM Sukhpal Singh said there was no loss of life or injuries in the fire. He said the preliminary assessment suggested that the blaze might have been caused by an electrical short circuit, although the exact cause would be established only after a detailed inquiry.
The SDM said the district administration has constituted a committee of officials to investigate the circumstances leading to the fire and submit a report. The committee will examine the electrical installations and other safety arrangements at the temporary camp to determine the exact cause of the incident and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in future.
Officials also reviewed the safety arrangements at the campsite after the incident.
The Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme, launched by the Punjab Government, aims to enable senior citizens and other eligible residents to undertake pilgrimages to prominent religious places free of cost. The scheme provides transportation, accommodation, meals and other basic facilities for pilgrims travelling to various religious destinations within and outside Punjab. Anandpur Sahib, one of Sikhism’s most revered pilgrimage centres, has been included among the key destinations under the programme, prompting the government to establish large temporary camps during periods of heavy pilgrim inflow.