Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 26: The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report on gutting of revered Dastageer Sahib Shrine at Khanyar last year has ruled out any sabotage as it has said that samples taken from the shrine didn’t posses any inflammable substance and ruled out short circuit, then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon said in his report to the Government.
The report prepared by the then Divisional Commissioner, Samoon who was inquiry office was made public by the Government today.
The Divisional Commissioner’s report said that the FSL report mentions that “no inflammable substance was detected and the exhibits did not bear any sign of short circuit”.
“However, since the scene of evidence was disturbed by the mobs who went on rampage after the fire went of control, the FSL experts are not sure to rule out short circuit as cause of the incident”, the report says.
The report further reveals: “However available evidence including statements of eye witnesses and forensic reports suggest that possibility of short circuit cannot be ruled out.”
The former Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has recommended a detailed probe by agencies concerned to find out the exact cause of fire. “Detailed investigation by police and concerned intelligence agencies is required to find out the exact cause of the fire incident, keeping in view recent attacks on several (other) shrines,” the report recommends.
Dastageer Sahib Shrine was completely gutted in a mysterious fire on June 25 last year with the blaze starting reportedly from the minaret of the shrine early in the morning.
The report says the Fire tenders reached the spot from Babdemb and Rainawari at 6:34 and 6:37 a.m. when the fire started between 6 a.m. and 6:15 a.m.
The report says that the Holy relics were shifted from the shrine at 6:20 a.m. but it has not questioned the delay of the Fire tenders reaching the spot. One of the fire stations is hardly a kilometre away from the shrine and could have taken only 2-3 minutes but it reached at 6:34 a.m some half an hour after the smoke was seen coming out of the minaret.
The report quoting Javed Iqbal Wani, Junior Engineer Waqf Board, also says that the shrine had a power agreement of 10 KV but the load was 20 KV. However, the report is silent about the overloading.
The report has said that the shrines in Kashmir are vulnerable to natural and man induced disasters as they are made up of wood and candles are used and the wiring system of the shrines is overloaded.
The report has suggested installations of automatic fire alarm system and smoke sensors in the shrines so that in case of any fire the administration takes measures of fire fighting quickly. It has also recommended automatic water sprinkling in case of fire.
The report has also recommended that no inflammable substance including fire pots should be allowed inside the shrine and installation of CCTV and X-ray machines at the shirnes.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel