india

Updated: Oct 17, 2019 22:03 IST

A fire broke out at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib in the Pakistani city of Hasan Abdal, 63 km northwest of the capital Islamabad on Wednesday, local authorities said even as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) called for a probe into the blaze.

“The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when sparks from the ongoing welding work at the Gurudwara caused the blankets kept in the vicinity to catch fire,” said Adnan Anjum Raja, the Assistant Commissioner of Hasan Abdal, according to ANI

The fire was soon put out and caused minor damage to the gurudwara’s hall.

Construction work is underway at the Panja Sahib ahead of the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, when Sikhs from all across the world are scheduled to visit the gurdwara on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

I wish to share that the Gurdwara management has been successful in containing the fire in the Diwan Hall of Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib which was constructed nearly 200 years ago by General Hari Singh Nalwa Ji.



Waheguru Mehar Rakhe 🙏🏻 https://t.co/pbIlAJ9VHC pic.twitter.com/HXTvMeG7Cm — Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 16, 2019

A devotee took to Twitter to say that the management was successful in putting out the blaze.

On Thursday, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alleged that the Panja Sahib was an act of sabotage by Pakistani authorities and called for a probe.

“It should be probed whether there was a conspiracy behind the incident, whether the fire was intentionally set. The damage at this building at such time has hurt the sentiments of Sikhs,” ANI quoted SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa as saying.

He also appealed to the Gurdwara management and local administration to restore the hall that was damaged in the fire.