Fire destroys PJ Hindu temple storage room, deity statues

 

Items from the temple, which was in the midst of a renovation, were being stored in the wooden den, and included deity statues, prayer items and furniture. Pic courtesy of NSTP reader.

PETALING JAYA: A temporary storage den adjoining the Sri Maha Mariamman Alayam Temple in Taman Desa Ria here was destroyed in a fire, on Tuesday evening.

Items from the temple, which was in the midst of a renovation, were being stored in the wooden den, and included deity statues, prayer items and furniture.

A temple regular, N. Seelan, 31, said he heard a few explosions in the 6.15pm fire.

Apart from the store, Seelan, who lives near the temple, said a few vehicles parked nearby were also damaged in the fire.

"I was coming back home when I spotted some thick, dark smoke coming from the temple direction. When I reached the scene, I noticed the fire had engulfed the store and the priest's room.

"There were a few people who were trying to salvage what they could, but sadly, the fire spread fast," he said.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal, when met at the scene, said a team of firefighters arrived at the site at 6.25pm.

He said two fire engines and 37 firemen from four fire stations in Petaling Jaya were deployed to put out the fire.

"They manage to quickly bring the fire under control within 10 minutes. Based on the initial report, no one was injured in the fire," he said.

Nik Ezanee said police do not have an estimate on the losses incurred, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. - NST