M A I N   N E W S

Palace gutted
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 15
The Dogra heritage suffered yet another loss here today when a devastating fire consumed an old palace in the Mubarak Mandi complex in the heart of the city.

The monument, which was a part of the historical palace complex, was badly burnt. It housed an office of the Hospitality and Protocol Department.

The fire broke out mysteriously in the monumental building in the area that was under the constant guard of the CRPF. The camp of the CRPF is outside the building that once housed the treasure of the Dogra rulers. This is the sixth fire incident in the palace complex in the past few years.

Fire engines from all stations in and around the city were rushed there to extinguish the fire, but they failed to bring the flames under control until much damage had been caused to the building.

The building was locked for the past some time and the official record of the Protocol Department was stored there. However, the exact extent of damage was yet to be assessed.

Ironically, the damage was caused at a time when the Centre had approved a Rs 40 crore plan for the restore the glory of the palace complex. Firemen, who reached there immediately, managed to control the fire from spreading to other palaces. The offices of the food and supplies and election departments are situated in its vicinity.

The Divisional Commissioner, Mr Parmod Jain, and other officers reached the spot to supervise the fire-fighting operations.