500-year-old Theog temple gutted

SHIMLA, February 17

A nine-storey ancient temple of Bageshwari Mata, said to be about 500 years old, was gutted in a fire in Theog subdivision of Shimla district, causing an estimated loss of Rs 20 lakh, said the police.

Rs 20-L loss estimated

• A loss of Rs 20 lakh has been estimated, said the police
• The pradhan of the Kuthar panchayat said Ashtadhatu idols and jewellery kept inside the temple were completely gutted
• Electric short circuit said to be the likely reason behind incident

There was no loss of life was in the incident as no one was present inside the temple at that time.

The incident occurred on Friday at Bageshwar village of Kuthar panchayat in Theog after local residents performed the morning prayers and the temple’s door was closed.

After a few hours, some residents noticed that the temple was on fire and immediately informed the police and the district administration.

A police team from Deha and fire tenders from Theog rushed to the spot as soon as they received the information and doused the fire.

Talking to The Tribune, Mohar Singh, Pradhan of Kuthar panchayat, said the temple was said to be of the Mahabharata era. He said Ashtadhatu idols and jewellery in the temple were completely gutted in the incident.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Theog, Siddharth Sharma confirmed the report and said from the evidences collected from the spot and the statement of temple committee members and local people, it was prima facie inferred that the incident happened due to electric short circuit in the temple complex.

The DSP said further investigation was underway.