Bhadrak, Mar 18: A fire broke out at the sanctum of Goddess Bhadrakali at the Bhadrakali Temple in Bhadrak on Tuesday evening, causing minor damage to some items, officials said. Temple sevayats acted swiftly to douse the flames, preventing a major disaster. Fire services reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Preliminary reports suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire.

According to sources, the incident occurred after the evening aarti when smoke was noticed coming from the temple’s storage room. Sevayats immediately opened the room and evacuated items to minimize damage. Some clothing, puja materials, and other temple belongings were reportedly destroyed before the fire was controlled.

The Bhadrak sub-collector later visited the site to assess the situation. While the cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit, officials have ordered a detailed investigation into the incident.