Fire near Arunachaleswarar Temple destroys shops ahead of major festival
A late-night fire on Kamatchi Amman temple Street in Tiruvannamalai destroyed two shops and seven bikes about one kilometer from the famous Arunachaleswarar temple.
The blaze started when a spark from an electrical box set off camphor stored for the upcoming Karthigai Deepam festival.
Firefighters worked through the night, finally putting out the flames by morning.
Locals step up as rescue heroes
Shop owner Sabeer Ahmed and worker Mohammed Ali were quickly pulled to safety by nearby shopkeepers.
The fire hit a building storing about two tons of camphor for Karthigai Deepam—a huge annual event that draws thousands of visitors.
Safety checks underway before festival crowds arrive
Officials believe an electrical short circuit triggered the fire, which was thankfully contained to one complex with around 30 shops.
With Karthigai Deepam's big finale—the lighting atop Annamalai Hill—approaching, authorities are now conducting a probe to ensure safety measures are in place.