A fire reportedly broke out on the last day of the 'Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam,' a rare Hindu religious event, that was being conducted by Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at his 120-acre farmhouse at Erravalli village in Telangana's Medak district.
President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu were expected to be present at the event on Sunday for a ritual that signifies the end of the lengthy yagnam seeking peace and prosperity.
Thousands of people from Telangana and other areas have been thronging the location during the past four days including many VIPs and VVIPs.
While it is still unclear as to what caused the fire, but initial reports suggest that the fire grew out of control when one of priests poured a lot of 'ghee' into the fire.
No casualties have been reported.
According to NDTV, the fire broke out in the main pandal around 1:30 pm, shortly before President Pranab Mukherjee was expected to arrive to attend the yagna. The blaze damaged the pandal's thatched roof.
Fire tenders have rushed to the spot and the situation is under control. The Yagam is also said to have resumed and is in its final stage of concluding.
Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu attended the ceremony and was received with 'Poornakumbham' and full honours and spent more than an hour-and-a-half at the 'Yagashala'.
The yagam later resumed.
Fire at the pandal of ‘Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagnam’ in Medak (Telangana), a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/5o9ReH6rQz
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2015
Fire breaks out at #KCR's yagna in Medak district of #Telangana. The top portion of the main prayer area on fire
— T S Sudhir (@Iamtssudhir) December 27, 2015
Main pandal looked like this with large pits created for the holy fire. Thatched structure did not make it fire-safe pic.twitter.com/jOnVhnTlql
— T S Sudhir (@Iamtssudhir) December 27, 2015
#NewsAlert: There was an unfortunate fire accident at the Ayutha Chandi Yagam. No casualties or injuries: KT Rao, Telangana Minister.
— The Asian Age (@TheAsianAgeNews) December 27, 2015
#NewsAlert: The last leg of ceremony will be completed soon: KT Rao, Telangana Minister.
— The Asian Age (@TheAsianAgeNews) December 27, 2015
Pooja resumed in the yaga shala pic.twitter.com/4kh3Vb2Ghr
— Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) December 27, 2015