SolomonL12 at 17:19, 16 October 2025

2025-10-16T17:19:49Z

New page

{{Short description|1997 fire in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox news event
| title = 1997 Brihadeeswarar Temple fire
| image = Temple tanjore.jpg
| image_name = [[Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur|Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur]]
| image_size =
| caption = [[Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur|Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur]]
| date = {{Start date|1997|06|07|df=y}}
| time =
| place = [[Thanjavur]], Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{coord|10|46|58|N|79|07|54|E|type:event_region:IN-04|display=inline,title}}
| also known as =
| cause =
| participants =
| outcome =
| reported injuries = 200
| reported death(s) = 48
| reported missing =
| reported property damage =
| burial =
| inquiries =
| inquest =
| coroner =
| suspects =
| charges =
| verdict =
| convictions =
| litigation =
}}

A fire accident occurred during the consecration of the [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] on 7 June 1997 in [[Thanjavur]], Tamil Nadu, India. A fire cracker lit near the temple fell on the ''yajnashala'', a temporary structure built to accommodate the ritual ceremonies, and sparked the fire that spread to the thatched roofs. A stampede resulted when the panic-stricken devotees rushed the only entrance to the temple on the eastern side, killing 48 people and injuring more than 200.

The rescue operations were monitored by Pulavar Senguttuvan, the state Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, T N Ramanathan, the District Collector, S K Dogra, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and Jayanth Murali, Superintendent of Police of [[Thanjavur district]] at that time. The rescue operations were aided by Home Guards, members of [[Red Cross]] and the general public. The Tamil Nadu Government announced a compensation of Rs 100,000 to the families of the deceased and the injured were paid from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 each.

==Background==
[[File:Brihadeeswarar Temple (The Peruvudaiyar Koyil ) 06.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Entrance of the temple]]
[[Brihadeeswarar Temple]], also called {{Transliteration|ta|Peruvudaiyaar Kovil}} ({{Literal translation|Big Temple}}), is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]] and built by [[Raja Raja Chola I]] in 1010 AD, in his capital city [[Thanjavur]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11406440 | title=India's Big Temple marks 1,000th birthday | work=BBC | date=25 September 2010 | agency=BBC Tamil | accessdate=17 December 2013 | author=Swaminathan Natarajan}}</ref>

The temple is a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] and is one of the "[[Great Living Chola Temples]]". The vimana (or temple tower) is {{cvt|216|ft|m|adj=mid|high}} and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kumbam ([[Kalasha]] or Shikhar) Vimanam (apexex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single stone and it weighs around 80 tons.<ref>{{cite web |title= The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) |url= http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_cholabt.asp |publisher= Archaeological Survey of India |accessdate= 30 November 2013}}</ref>

It is an architectural exemplar showcasing the pure form of the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravida]] type of temple architecture and representative of the [[Chola Empire]] ideology and the [[Tamil people|Tamil]] civilisation in [[Southern India]]. The temple "testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250 |title=Great Living Chola Temples |publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref>

==Fire==
[[File:Bragadeeshwara temple at Thanjavur.jpg|left|200px|Brihadeeswarar Temple|thumb]]
During the consecration (''[[Kumbhabhishekham]]'') ceremony of 1997, 48 people were killed in a fire accident and 86 others injured.<ref>[[#B.K.|B.K. 2005]], p. 190</ref><ref name="deccan">{{cite news| url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/59116/hex-fears-doom-temple-gala.html | location=Chennai | work=Deccan Herald | title=Hex fears doom temple gala |date=June 2010 |accessdate=22 June 2012 }}</ref> The incident occurred hours before the Mahakumbabishekam ceremony.<ref name="yaga">{{cite news| url=http://www.rediff.com/news/jun/09fire.htm | location=Thanjavur | work=Rediff.com | title=40 killed in Thanjavur temple fire |date=June 1997 |accessdate=22 June 2012 }}</ref> It was reported that as many as 120 priests were performing the holy ceremonies in the temple.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tent fire leaves 60 dead in India|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22918434.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610165248/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22918434.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2014|newspaper=The Buffalo News|location=Buffalo, NY|date=8 June 1997|accessdate=30 November 2013}}</ref> It is believed a fire cracker lit near the temple fell on the ''yagasala'', a temporary structure built to accommodate the ritual ceremonies, and sparked the fire that spread to the thatched roofs. A stampede resulted when the panic-stricken devotees rushed to the only entrance to the temple on the eastern side.<ref name="yaga"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Temple of death.(News)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61088407.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610165246/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61088407.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2014|newspaper=Sunday Mail|location=Glasgow, Scotland|date=8 June 1997|accessdate=30 November 2013}}</ref> However, another version claimed the fire was caused by a spark from an electric generator.<ref name="yaga"/>

Most of the deaths were caused by [[carbon monoxide poisoning]], though a few were due to burn injuries. There was significant amounts of flammable materials like [[ghee]] and [[camphor]] (karpooram), which are used in religious ceremonies, condiments and thatched roof that resulted in spreading of fire. The only entrance was the narrow eastern side where many rushed and fell on stones.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Missed lessons|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20040813005101900.htm&date=fl2116/&prd=fline&|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131215205624/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20040813005101900.htm&date=fl2116/&prd=fline&|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2013|volume=21|issue=16|date=31 August 2008|accessdate=30 November 2013|journal=The Hindu}}</ref> Police reported that they recovered 37 bodies from the thatched roof that fell on the worshipers. The fire hampered the electric line in the neighbourhood, slowing down the rescue operations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fire Kills Hindu Worshipers|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-725562.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610165244/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-725562.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=8 June 1997|accessdate=30 November 2013}}</ref>

The rescue operations were monitored by Pulavar Senguttuvan, the state Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, T N Ramanathan, the District Collector, S K Dogra, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police and Jayanth Murali, Superintendent of Police of [[Thanjavur district]] at that time. The rescue operations were aided by [[Home Guard (India)|Home Guards]], members of the [[Red Cross]] and the general public.<ref name="TV" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Services of Red Cross lauded|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/11/stories/2011051152270300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514162235/http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/11/stories/2011051152270300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2011|accessdate=30 November 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=11 May 2011}}</ref> A special information cell was opened in the premises of the temple and at the District Collector's office.<ref name="TV">{{cite news|title=More than 37 die in Thanjavur temple fire|url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970608/15950403.html|date=8 June 1997|accessdate=30 November 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215215103/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970608/15950403.html|archivedate=15 December 2013}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
The accident was one of four major fire accidents in the state along with the fire accidents like the [[Erwadi fire incident]] on 6 August 2001 that killed 30 mentally challenged people, [[Srirangam marriage hall fire|fire at marriage hall]] on 23 January 2004 in [[Srirangam]] where 30 people including the bridegroom were killed and [[2004 Kumbakonam School fire]] where 94 school children were killed.<ref name="Teets103">[[#Teets|Teets 2007]], p. 103-4</ref>

The Tamil Nadu government announced a compensation of Rs 100,000 to the families of the deceased and the injured were paid from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 each.<ref name="yaga" /> The Deputy Inspector General (DGI), during the investigation, ruled out any possibility of sabotage even though an attempt was made to blast the TV relay station at Eswari Nagar the previous week.<ref name="TV" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
* {{anl|Crowd collapses and crushes}}
* {{anl|Human stampede}}
* [[List of fatal crowd crushes]]

[[Category:Religious building and structure fires in India]]
[[Category:1997 disasters in India]]
[[Category:1990s in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1990s fires in Asia]]
[[Category:1997 fires]]
[[Category:History of Thanjavur]]
[[Category:Disasters in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Building and structure fires started by pyrotechnics]]
[[Category:June 1997 in India]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in 1997]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in India]]
[[Category:Deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning]]
[[Category:Hindu temple fires]]

Brihadeeswarar temple fire - Revision history

SolomonL12 at 17:19, 16 October 2025