Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan voiced deep concern over the recent fire that destroyed Kurma village’s farm community temple near Hiramandalam. Calling the incident deeply unfortunate, he emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and assured that the government would provide all necessary assistance to the affected community.
Kurma village, established by ISKCON, is known for its spiritual values, commitment to traditional living, natural farming, and Vedic education. Pawan Kalyan acknowledged its cultural significance and said it stands as a rare example of sustainable heritage worth preserving in today’s fast-changing world.
The fire reportedly broke out in a prayer room constructed from mud and straw, sparking suspicion among the locals about possible foul play. However, Srikakulam SP K.V. Maheswara Reddy on 14 June 2025 clarified in a statement that initial investigations found no evidence of malicious intent or external involvement.
Residents explained that lighting oil lamps for prayer is a daily practice and that these are typically extinguished afterward. Officials believe that an unattended lamp might have led to the blaze. Samples and evidence from the site have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for further analysis.
What the Head Priest Says?
Speaking to the local media, the temple priest Charan Das recounted, “Everything happened on the night of the 10th, Tuesday, around 9:45 PM. Usually, all our activities conclude by 8 PM. By 8:30 PM, the temple hall is completely closed. The structure is made entirely of palm leaves, standing at a height of at least 25 feet and measuring about 120 by 60 feet in size.
At exactly 9:45 PM, a fire broke out in one corner of the temple. That spot houses the Radha-Krishna idols. There are no lamps or candles left burning after we finish. Our routine is very strict — everything is shut by 8:30 PM, and the priest exits with a small lantern. Even if by chance a lamp was left lit, the nearby houses would have clearly noticed it and alerted us immediately.
But on that particular day, everything was shut by 8:30 PM. After that, no one was inside. Suddenly by 9:45 PM, flames erupted in the corner, and within just 10 minutes — by 9:55 — the fire had spread rapidly. The entire structure, including the straw roof, caught fire all at once. Though it had rained earlier that evening, which usually reduces fire risk, the structure still burned down in seconds. It was as if petrol had been poured — that’s how intense and fast the fire spread. The heat was so strong that no one could go within 50 feet of it. Even now, four days later, we can still feel the residual heat.
We stood and watched in disbelief as the fire consumed everything. The flames reached all corners, even areas covered with cross beams and diamond-pattern wooden ventilation slats. It’s shocking — both the top and bottom caught fire almost simultaneously.”
The anchor questioned, “I have a serious doubt here. For such a massive fire to break out, either an electrical fault or an open flame should be involved. But there was no electricity in the area, and no lamps were left burning.”
Charan Das replied, “That leaves us with only one possibility — foul play. It seems likely that someone, driven by jealousy or resentment, may have done this intentionally. Kurma village promotes spiritual values and traditional living. Every day, we get around 300–400 visitors. About 20–30 people even stay to learn how our ancestors lived. Some come to study the Bhagavad Gita. There’s a noble spirit here. But just as in ancient times — even during Prahlada’s era — whenever there is devotion, there are always forces working against it. We suspect that someone who doesn’t want this dharmic way of life to thrive may have done this. Today, we see similar incidents happening elsewhere too — idols being vandalized or temples being targeted. We left behind jobs and city life to live peacefully and simply. That’s the kind of community we have here.”
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