Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, Nov 15: A nocturnal fire damaged spire of historic Khankhah-e-Moulla shrine, which was built in the memory of revered Sufi Saint, Mir Sayed Ali Hamadani, here in old city area of Srinagar.
A probe has been ordered by Government to ascertain the exact cause of fire but prima-facie it appeared that the blaze occurred due to lightening.
Director, Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), RK Hawk told Excelsior that at 1:31 am, they received fire call and immediately the department sounded a “brigade alert”. “We alerted all fire brigades of Srinagar district and rushed fire tenders to the historic shrine which is located in a congested neighbourhood,” he said, adding that the department pressed in 22 fire tenders including bronto sky lift into service.
Witnesses said the local residents, police and other officials rushed to the spot and helped firefighters in dousing the fire. “The brigade alert was later modified to medium call. With the assistance of local residents, the fire was doused within 30 minutes. We are highly thankful to locals who did not hinder our operations and gave us free hand in firefighting,” he said, adding that only spire of the Khankhah-e-Moulla shrine has suffered damage.
The Khankhah shrine, first built in 1395 on the banks of River Jhelum, is completely a wooden structure and any delay on part of officials would have razed whole structure to the ground. An eyewitness, who is posted in local fire station at Khankhah, told reporters that at 12:55 am, lightening struck the locality. “Nothing was visible. After some time, we saw some fire sparks in our fire station. We doused that but we saw fire atop the shrine. The natural calamity resulted in fire,” he said. He, however, added that there are no fire alarms installed in the shrine.
A senior Government official told Excelsior that a probe has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the fire but preliminary enquiry suggested that the lightening has caused the blaze in spire. “Prima-facie it has come to fore that the lightening overnight struck the metal object fitted with spire and caused fire. We still, however, have ordered a probe but thank God, the historic shrine has been saved,” he said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, said there could be multiple reasons for the blaze. “Either it could be lightening or short circuit. But Allah was merciful…there has been some damage on spire in upper portion but rest has been saved,” he said, adding that the Government would immediately start construction work on spire and other damaged portion. At the time of blaze incident, local residents said, there was no electricity in most parts of Srinagar due to gusty winds and rainfall.
Throughout the day today, large number of devotees including women thronged the Khankhah shrine. The shrine management has shut down the main prayer place for men devotees as water has damaged the furnishing. The prayer place, reserved for women, was however, open to devotees. “We are thankful to Allah as a major tragedy was averted,” said a group of women devotees while praying inside the shrine.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti this morning rushed to Srinagar and visited the Khankhah-e-Moulla shrine. Cancelling all her engagements, Mehbooba airdashed to Srinagar early this morning and straight away drove to the shrine of saint in the old city, an official spokesman said. The Chief Minister went round various areas of the shrine complex to assess the quantum of damage. She sought a detailed appraisal from the local administration regarding the fire incident.
Interacting with the members of the management committee and devotees, Mehbooba Mufti said the shrine of Mir Sayed Ali Hamadani, also called as Ameer-e-Kabeer and Shah-e-Hamdan, symbolizes the pluralistic ethos of Kashmir society from which every citizen of the State draws spiritual solace. She expressed her deep appreciation for the local youth who came forward and prevented the fire from spreading.
On the occasion, people of the area demanded installation of CCTVs in the shrine complex, availability of fire tenders in the locality, scientific protection to the wood structures at the shrine and expediting shrine expansion plan, the official spokesman added. The Chief Minister faced sloganeering from angry devotees while she was leaving from the shrine. The situation, however, remained under control.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review the safety and protection of all the shrines of the Valley in the backdrop of last night’s fire incident at Khankhah-e-Moula, the Chief Minister directed all concerned Departments like Wakf Board, Fire & Emergency Serv-ices, PDD, PHE, Police, SMC and other related Departments to jointly conduct the safety audit of all the shrines and come up with whatever precautionary measures are required to protect these places of reverence.
Mehbooba Mufti directed installation of fire hydrants, smoke alarms, CCTVs and other precautions to prevent fire occurrence at any shrine in the State.
The Chief Minister, who is also the chairperson of the Wakf Board, directed immediate start of restoration work at the shrine and complete it within the shortest period. She asked the INTACH to come up with the drawings within two days so that restoration work is started. She said money would be no constraint in the completion of restoration works at the shrine, which she described as civilizational soul for the people of the State.
Mehbooba Mufti noted with satisfaction that with the joint efforts of the local administration and people of the area, the fire at the shrine complex was not let to spread. She expressed her deep appreciation for the local youth who came forward and prevented the fire from spreading while directing the local administration to prepare list of such volunteers so that they would be suitably rewarded.
The Chief Minister was informed that regular prayers at the shrine would commence from Thursday after completing the cleaning, drying of floor and laying of new furnishing at the shrine.
She directed the concerned agencies to expedite the restoration works at the Hazrat Peer Dastageer sahib shrine (R.A.) at Khanyar so that the devotees are facilitated at the earliest.
On the occasion, the INTACH and JKPCC offered to do restoration job at the shrine free of cost in view of the importance of the shrine for the people of the State.
The meeting decided that Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar would monitor and supervised the restoration works at the shrine personally to get these completed in time.
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