London Hindu Centre Burns After Ganapati Visarjan Celebration
Fire devastates Ilford community centre, no injuries reported.
A massive fire tore through the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre on Cleveland Road in Ilford, east London, late Saturday night, causing extensive structural damage just hours after a vibrant Ganapati Visarjan event. The London Fire Brigade, alerted by Metropolitan Police officers on routine patrol, brought the blaze under control by 9:21 PM, with no injuries reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with early speculation pointing to fireworks used during the Hindu festival, though police found no evidence of arson.
The community centre, a hub for the local Hindu community, was adorned for the Ganapati Visarjan, the ceremonial immersion marking the end of Ganesh Chaturthi, which celebrates Lord Ganesha’s birthday. Devotees had gathered for prayers, cultural performances, and festivities, making the fire’s timing particularly devastating. The blaze, which fully engulfed the single-storey building, required six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters from Ilford, Barking, Stratford, Leyton, Hainault, and Romford stations. A 32-metre turntable ladder from Dagenham was deployed as a water tower to douse the flames from above.
The Metropolitan Police, working with Redbridge Council, urged residents to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke and evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution. “The investigation team has found no evidence to suggest the fire was deliberate,” a police spokesperson said, addressing concerns heightened by a recent arson attack on an Indian restaurant in nearby Gants Hill, where a 15-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man were arrested.
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Jas Athwal, the Indian-origin Labour MP for Ilford South, praised the fire crews’ swift response on social media. “Grateful to the brave crews for keeping our community safe,” he wrote, advising residents to avoid the area while damage assessments continue. The Redbridge borough leader echoed this, expressing gratitude to emergency services and cautioning locals to steer clear of Cleveland Road.
The fire has left the Hindu community in shock, with the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre—a vital space for cultural and religious events—severely damaged. Local reports suggest the Ganapati Visarjan’s fireworks may have sparked the blaze, though authorities are still probing the exact cause. The incident follows heightened tensions in Ilford after the arson attack on Indian Aroma restaurant last weekend, which injured five people and raised fears of targeted attacks.
As the community grapples with the loss, Redbridge Council has pledged support, and the London Fire Brigade is coordinating with investigators to determine the fire’s origin. The absence of injuries offers some relief, but the destruction of the community centre casts a shadow over the festive spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10-day celebration that culminated in the Visarjan on September 6, 2025.
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