Gul anguished over fire incident at Hazrat Saber Baba shrine
Seeks restoration of gutted shrine, safety audit of all shrines in Shahar e Khas
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference senior leader and Former Speaker Mubarak Gul on Tuesday expressed profound grief and sorrow over the massive fire that gutted Hazrat Saber Baba (RA) Shrine in Waniyar Safakadal.
Expressing grief over the damage caused by the ablaze to the Shrine, Gul said the incident has saddened him. “I am deeply saddened to learn about the serious damage caused by fire to the historical shrine of Saber Baba. I share the grief of people,” he said.
Gul also demanded that the revered shrine should be restored to its pristine glory. “The concerned Waqf board, and district administration should join efforts and start the reconstruction work immediately. I also demand a proper safety audit of all the major shrines in Shahar e Khas. Also revenue teams should be rushed to the spot in waniyar to assess the losses incurred by adjoining houses and shops, so that the quantum of the compensation is worked out and distributed forthwith,” he added.
He further added that the shrine has represented the best of Kashmir’s value system as it was a focus of reverence for all local residents, irrespective of religious or other considerations. He also expressed outrage on the lack of prevention and firefighting arrangements at such priceless spiritual and heritage centres and urged the divisional administration to ensure safety of all the revered shrines in Shahar e Khas areas of the Srinagar city and elsewhere also.
