Ancient Gujjar Khan temple collapses due to heavy rains

Poor maintenance of the historic structure main reason behind collapse

RAWALPINDI:

A centuries-old temple located in the Nadali area of ​​Gujjar Khan has collapsed due to the heavy rains.

The central part of the temple and an obelisk was in a dilapidated condition and could not withstand the pressure as heavy rains and winds lashed it over the weekend. Even though the structure collapsed, no one was hurt as it is seldom visited by the local Hindu community.

Some videos made by locals from their mobile phones of the temple collapse have since gone viral. Locals said on Monday that poor maintenance of the historic structure was the main reason it collapsed during the rains.

They added that the Rawalpindi district administration was acutely aware of the dilapidated condition of the temple as the Auqaf department had repeatedly written to various authorities to save it. They alleged that despite knowing its poor state, the district administration took no measures to protect the temple from heavy rains. They added that the rest of the temple is also in a dilapidated state and could collapse at any moment unless action is taken to save it.

Watch the video here.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2020.