A group of devotees had a miraculous escape when an explosion ripped through a Hare Krishna temple in Leicestershire on Friday.
The explosion, which destroyed most of the building, was thought to have been caused by gas cylinders being used to cook meal for worshippers who had gathered there as part of Janamasthami celebrations.
Police said they were investigating the cause but indicated that there appeared to be no reason to suspect foul play.
About 30 people were believed to have been in or around the building when the incident took place causing panic.
"Everyone was really nervous because all we could see is the fire and people screaming and running around, all the children couldn't stop crying and it was a terrible devastating scene," one eyewitness told the BBC.
Initially, there were fears that some might have been trapped inside but fire service authorities confirmed that all had been accounted for. Some sustained minor bruises.
A large part of the two-storey structure, that housed the temple, was reduced to a rubble in the fire caused by the explosion. It took nearly two hours to control the blaze.
Dillon Kidger, who has his offices on the same road as the temple, said he rushed outside after hearing a large explosion.
"It was actually that loud that the building shook. I heard banging noises and people screaming --- there was a big fire and the building was gone in about five to 10 minutes. I saw a few people praying outside and people walking round with cuts to their hands and faces from the shrapnel," he told Sky TV.
According to another eyewitness, there was ``a big bang’’ and the building exploded into flames.
``For one split second we thought it was a bomb, so we all ran to the window. Suddenly we heard the other bang and we saw all these flames coming out and we just could not believe it because the whole street was shaken up,’’ she said.
No damage appeared to have been done to adjacent properties.
