Police investigate fire at Thiruvilwamala temple

THRISSUR: The police and Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) on Wednesday began a probe into the fire that broke out at the famous Vilwadrinatha Temple at Thiruvilwamala bordering Thrissur and Palakkad districts on Tuesday evening.
The fire which broke out at about 8.30pm was brought under control around 10.30 pm, by the fire brigade. Though no casualties were reported, the fire had caused extensive damage to the temple which is believed to be over 500 years old.
Thrissur rural SP Yathish Chandra has constituted a special investigating team under the Kunnamkulam DSP P Viswambararan to probe into the incident. According to the preliminary investigations, the temple caught fire from the lamps which were lit-up for the Chuttuvilakku programme. The forensic experts who had examined the fire-affected area have also ruled out the possibility of a sabotage, police said.
The Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) president Dr Sudarsan said as per preliminary estimates, the loss in the fire could be around Rs 20 lakhs, but the renovation of the fire-affected Koothambalam and Chuttambalam could cost Rs 2 crore.
He said the Devaswom vigilance officer Jayaraj will probe the fire, and it will also cover any security lapses.
The CDB was planning to resume the renovation work of the temple soon. Entry to the temple was restricted on Wednesday for the smooth conduct of the forensic studies, Sudarsan said.