Currently, the three-week long journey of the Palkhis of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj is underway from Alandi and Dehu in Pune to the temple town of Pandharpur.
A cooking gas cylinder caught fire when some Warkaris were preparing their meals on Thursday morning on the Saswad-Walunj Road in Pune, the fire department said.
The fire department added no casualties were reported in the incident as the fire was quickly brought under control by a fire tender from the Pune fire brigade deployed with the Palkhi procession of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj.
Currently, the three-week long journey of the Palkhis of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj is underway from Alandi and Dehu in Pune to the temple town of Pandharpur.
Palkhis are the processions of palanquins carrying the paduka or the symbolic footwear of the two revered saint poets Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj.
Officials from the Pune fire brigade said the incident took place around 10 am at the Walunj Phata on the Saswad-Jejuri Road in one of the dindis (a group of Warkaris travelling together and sharing resources) when the Warkaris were cooking their meals.
“A cooking gas cylinder in a dindi suddenly caught fire due to a gas leak. The Warkaris initially tried to douse the fire using sand but failed. No casualties were reported as the Warkaris had moved away from the cylinder after the fire started,” said a fire officer.