Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, Feb 26: A fire damaged one of the oldest Shia mosques here in the Union Territory of Ladakh, hours before the start of night prayers of ‘Shab-e-Barat’, officials said on Monday.
The fire broke out at Balti Bazar masjid at 6.15 pm Sunday and within no time engulfed the entire structure, an official of the fire and emergency services said.
He said fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was controlled within three hours, avoiding damage to nearby structures including an adjoining ‘Imam Barah’ and residential houses.
Quoting preliminary information, police said the fire was apparently caused by the candles which were used to illuminate the mosque in view of ‘Shab-e-Barat’, which is observed by Muslims on the intervening night of the 14th and 15th days of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
Follow our WhatsApp channel