Celebratory Aarti Sparks Brief Fire Scare at Rayagada Cinema
A potential disaster was narrowly avoided at the Ashok Talkies cinema in Rayagada, Odisha, on Friday evening. A minor fire broke out during a highly anticipated screening of Rebel Star Prabhas's new film, The Raja Saab, causing momentary panic among the audience.
The incident took place during an evening show, where excited fans were celebrating the film's release inside the hall. According to sources, the trouble started when some attendees began performing an aarti (a ritual involving a ceremonial lamp) in front of the screen as Prabhas made his grand entry in the movie.
Quick Response Prevents Major Mishap
During the celebratory ritual, the aarti plate is reported to have slipped from someone's grasp. It fell onto some papers lying near the screen, which immediately caught fire. "There was a sudden flash of fire, which created panic for a few minutes," recounted a moviegoer who was present. However, the situation was brought under control swiftly.
Alert cinema staff, assisted by members of the audience, acted promptly to douse the flames. A staff member of Ashok Talkies confirmed, "Our staff responded immediately and ensured the fire was extinguished without delay." The official emphasized that all necessary safety protocols were followed during the incident.
No Injuries as Screening Resumes After Brief Halt
Fortunately, the quick action meant that no injuries or significant damage were reported. A theatre official stated, "Everyone inside the hall is safe. The situation was fully under control within minutes, and the screening resumed normally after a brief disruption."
Following the incident, the local police issued an advisory to moviegoers. Prasanna Behera, the Inspector-in-Charge of Rayagada town police station, urged caution: "Though no injury was reported, moviegoers are urged to refrain from such unsafe celebratory practices inside cinema halls."
The film at the center of the excitement, The Raja Saab, was released on January 9. Directed and written by Maruthi, it features Prabhas in the lead role alongside a star-studded cast including Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agarwal, Riddhi Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Boman Irani. The film has been released in multiple languages: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
