Temple gutted in Gulmarg

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 5: A temple located atop a hillock in the tourist resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir was gutted in a blaze early Wednesday, officials said here. The blaze erupted in the Shiv Temple, which is also known as Rani Temple, before dawn. Police assisted by locals put out the fire but could not save the temple, they said. The cause of fire was not immediately known. The temple was popular among tourists as it has featured in several Bollywood movies, including in the hit song ‘Jai Jai Shiv Shankar’ from “Aap Ki Kasam”. Click here to watch video Upon hearing about the devastating fire that engulfed the ancient Shiv Temple, commonly known as Maharani Temple, in Gulmarg, Vikramaditya Singh, former MLC and Trustee of the J&K Dharmarth Trust, reached Gulmarg to take stock of the situation. This temple, constructed in 1915 by the late Princess of Dharamkot State in Gujarat, the grandmother of Vikramaditya Singh, holds deep sentimental value for the Royal Family of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chairman Trustee, Dr. Karan Singh, along with Trustees of the J&K Dharmarth Trust and members of the Royal Family, has expressed deep grief and anguish over this untoward incident. Vikramaditya Singh conducted a detailed inspection of the damaged temple site and held discussions with DIG North Baramulla, Vivek Gupta, as well as local administration officials including the Tehsildar and SDPO to inquire about the cause of the fire. Although the official records from the Fire and Police Departments are yet to be received, preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He reiterated his profound sorrow and grief at the site of the charred remains of the temple. “This is not just a loss of a historic and religious monument, but a personal and family loss that affects us deeply,” he said and added, “This temple, built by my late grandmother, was a testament to our heritage and faith.” He assured that the Trust will take full responsibility for the reconstruction of the temple, with plans to restore it to its original glory and further urged the public not to pay attention to rumors and unconfirmed reports circulating on social media related to this unfortunate fire incident. Additional Secretary, Consulting Engineer, and other officials of the Trust accompanied the Trustee.