The Diwali festivities at a Melbourne temple ended with emergency services rushing to contain a grass fire that started after the customary fireworks.
Thousands of people were present to witness the fireworks at the end of the Diwali celebrations at the Shiva Vishnu temple in Carrum Downs, Southeast of Melbourne on Saturday.
Though the fire was quickly contained, but not before the raging flames caused the traffic at the nearby Eastlink motorway to be stopped temporarily, 7 News reported.
The fireworks were launched from a trailer in the carpark of the temple.
The temple management says they had the permission for the fireworks and had a licenced pyrotechnician operating it. They said the fire was quickly contained and no one was injured during the incident.
People attending the Diwali celebration at the temple praised the emergency services for their quick response.
“I was there when the blaze started, very well done and salute to SES staff and firefighters, they were so quick to respond to the incident. There was no panicking and everybody behaved so well to leave the venue,” Sukhwinder Kaur wrote on Facebook.
However, there are some from among the Indian community who are calling for putting a stop to the fireworks for such celebrations.
Work safe is investigating the cause of the fire.
SBS Punjabi contacted the temple management, but they declined to comment on the incident.
