Fire-hit roof collapses in Madurai temple

It may be recalled that on the night of February 2, a massive fire broke out on the premises of the temple and 20 shops, apart from a part of the Veera Vasantha Rayar Mandapam, were gutted. Pasupatheeswarar Sannadhi is situated in the northern part of the temple on the way to the Swami Sannadhi from the Eastern Tower entrance.

The stone roof constructed in the 17th century near the Pasupatheeswarar Sannadhi was constructed adjacent to the roof that collapsed in the inferno of February 2. This roof too had suffered damages on that day. However, the stone slabs began to loosen from the age-old binding for close to four days. 

Because of the continuing heat and the inability to withstand pressure, the roof collapsed around 8.40 pm on Tuesday, sources said. Sources also said that since the Eastern entrance to the temple was closed to devotees, no one was present when the roof collapsed. 

Another source in the temple said that the Pasupatheeswarar Sannadhi was a small structure (size 5 X 5 feet and located close to the 1,000-pillar hall, and was constructed at a later period). Only the structures that were put up later were destroyed in the fire accident. The   older structures did not suffer any damage, the source added. Due to the roof collapse, the visit of the expert team scheduled to inspect the damages in the temple on Wednesday morning, is likely to be postponed.