A massive fire broke out at the Kailasagiri forest  triggering panic at the nearby Srikalahasti temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati district on Wednesday night. Local administration and temple authorities suspect the hand of  anti-social elements in starting the fire.

According to the Srikalahasti Devasthanams officials, wildfire at the Kailasagiri hills was allegedly triggered by some miscreants who ventured into the forest area on Wednesday. The fire spread fast up to the Goshala near the Srikalahasti temple, causing panic among the people.

Although forest officials made frantic efforts to extinguish the fire, they remained unsuccessful. Later, Fire tenders from the local fire services department were rushed to the Goshala.

Srikalahasti Devasthanams officials said that all efforts were being made to protect the 800 cows sheltered at the Goshala.

Srikalahasti legislator B Madhusudan Reddy visited the Goshala and reviewed the situation. He directed firefighters to ensure that the cows do not face any difficulties.