TTD officials on Wednesday faced anxious moments as thick clouds of smoke billowed out of the temple kitchen.
The incident took place at ‘padi potu’ (main kitchen) where ‘annaprasadam’ is prepared. As smoke spiralled out of the kitchen, the panic-stricken devotees started rushing towards the front part of the temple complex. As news spread like wild fire, scores of TTD employees gathered at the forefront of the temple complex. Meanwhile, devotees who were standing in the darshan lines at Vendi Vakili, remained a baffled lot as smoke enveloped Ananda Nilayam.
However, it was learnt that the use of soggy fire wood had caused the smoke. The wood was immediately replaced with dry wood.
Meanwhile, forest officials came under criticism for supplying saturated fire wood for use in the temple kitchen.
