Fending fire

Nearly a year after the unfortunate mishap when Das­tur Nadirshah Un­valla’s jama caught fire whilst praying at the Bai Dhunbai and Caw­asji Dada­bhai Dar-e-Meher in Bangalore, the senior priest has not fully recovered. Moving aro­und with the support of a walker he is thankful though that he was "granted a second life.”

Unvalla: "second life”

Behdins in Bangalore have now been instructed to place lighted divas (lamps) on the table instead of the ground to ensure that such an accident does not recur, says Unvalla who still has vivid memories of November 12, 2004 when his robe accidentally came in contact with one such lighted divo. Soon he was enveloped in flames but the 15-20 onlookers could do little to alleviate his suffering. By the time an ambulance arrived he had fallen down unconscious. The burns injuries required him to be hospitalized for six months.

Some years ago a priest in Nagpur had sustained severe burns injuries at the fire temple. Though Zoroastrians revere fire they still have to safeguard against its destructive powers. Despite the two accidents referred to little is done in our fire temples to prevent similar incidents. On holy days when crowds throng the places of worship and countless divas are lit, a catastrophe could be in the making.