Historic Pulwama temple damaged in fire

Our Correspondent

Pulwama, December 13

A fire broke out at the famous Jwalaji Temple in Khrew area of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama this morning.

Raja Tasleem, Station Head Officer (SHO), Pampore, said the fire broke out at 7.30 am due to short circuit.

He said there has been no casuality or injury to any person in the incident. The fire was brought under control by fire tenders with the help of Police and Army personnel.

Jwalaji Temple is one of the ancient temples of Kashmir and had remained an important religious tourist destination for Kashmiri Pandits prior to 1990.

The All-Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) in Jammu expressed anguish over the incident and demanded a thorough probe “to know the exact cause of fire and mischief if any”.

Vinod Pandit, Chairman of APMCC, said since winter had already set in, immediate steps needed to be taken to prevent further damage to the temple. The APMCC has demanded immediate reconstruction of the temple by the government on pattern of other religious places gutted in the Valley in recent past.