Fire engulfs 200-year-old Kashmir shrine

Published June 25, 2012
Kashmiri Muslims shout religious slogans after retrieving relics from the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, after it caught a fire in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri Muslims shout religious slogans after retrieving relics from the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, after it caught a fire in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
A firefighter looks through an opening at a Sufi shrine where a fire broke out in Srinagar June 25, 2012. — Reuters Photo
A firefighter looks through an opening at a Sufi shrine where a fire broke out in Srinagar June 25, 2012. — Reuters Photo
Onlookers watch as firefighters fight a fire that broke out at a Sufi shrine in Srinagar June 25, 2012. — Reuters Photo
Onlookers watch as firefighters fight a fire that broke out at a Sufi shrine in Srinagar June 25, 2012. — Reuters Photo
Kashmiri women wail outside the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known worldwide as Ghaus-e-Azam or Dastgeer Sahab after it caught fire in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, June 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri women wail outside the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known worldwide as Ghaus-e-Azam or Dastgeer Sahab after it caught fire in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, June 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri residents help firefighters as a fire rages at the sufi shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani known as Dastageer Sahib in downtown Srinagar on June 25, 2012.  A massive fire has broken out in the 200 year old heritage Sufi shrine however, officials said the anciet relics of the saint kept inside a fire-proof safe at the shrine have been saved and retrieved.  — AFP Photo
Kashmiri residents help firefighters as a fire rages at the sufi shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani known as Dastageer Sahib in downtown Srinagar on June 25, 2012. A massive fire has broken out in the 200 year old heritage Sufi shrine however, officials said the anciet relics of the saint kept inside a fire-proof safe at the shrine have been saved and retrieved. — AFP Photo
Residents help firefighters as a fire rages at the sufi shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani known as Dastageer Sahib in downtown Srinagar on June 25, 2012.  A massive fire has broken out in the 200 year old heritage Sufi shrine however, officials said the anciet relics of the saint kept inside a fire-proof safe at the shrine have been saved and retrieved.  — AFP Photo
Residents help firefighters as a fire rages at the sufi shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani known as Dastageer Sahib in downtown Srinagar on June 25, 2012. A massive fire has broken out in the 200 year old heritage Sufi shrine however, officials said the anciet relics of the saint kept inside a fire-proof safe at the shrine have been saved and retrieved. — AFP Photo
Residents help firefighters as a fire rages at the sufi shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani known as Dastageer Sahib in downtown Srinagar on June 25, 2012.  A massive fire has broken out in the 200 year old heritage Sufi shrine however, officials said the anciet relics of the saint kept inside a fire-proof safe at the shrine have been saved and retrieved. — AFP Photo
Residents help firefighters as a fire rages at the sufi shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani known as Dastageer Sahib in downtown Srinagar on June 25, 2012. A massive fire has broken out in the 200 year old heritage Sufi shrine however, officials said the anciet relics of the saint kept inside a fire-proof safe at the shrine have been saved and retrieved. — AFP Photo
Kashmiri residents watch as firefighters try to extinguish the fire at a nearly 200-years-old shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri residents watch as firefighters try to extinguish the fire at a nearly 200-years-old shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri residents chant anti-India slogans as they carry a wounded man for treatment after a fire broke out at the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri residents chant anti-India slogans as they carry a wounded man for treatment after a fire broke out at the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri residents watch as firefighters try to extinguish a fire at the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam,or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri residents watch as firefighters try to extinguish a fire at the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam,or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
A muslim schoolboy holds religious scripts salvaged after a fire at the nearly 200-year-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known worldwide as Ghaus-e-Azam or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, June 25, 2012. — AP Photo
A muslim schoolboy holds religious scripts salvaged after a fire at the nearly 200-year-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known worldwide as Ghaus-e-Azam or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, June 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Residents try to put out a fire at the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelan Shrinei, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Residents try to put out a fire at the nearly 200-years-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelan Shrinei, popularly known as Ghaus-e-Azam, or Dastgeer Sahab, in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. — AP Photo
A Muslim boy walks past the nearly 200-year-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known worldwide as Ghaus-e-Azam or Dastgeer Sahab, on fire in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. Anti-India clashes between protesters and government forces erupted in the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir Monday after the highly revered Muslim shrine was destroyed in a fire, police said. The cause of the fire is yet unknown. — AP Photo
A Muslim boy walks past the nearly 200-year-old Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Shrine, popularly known worldwide as Ghaus-e-Azam or Dastgeer Sahab, on fire in downtown Srinagar, India, Monday, May 25, 2012. Anti-India clashes between protesters and government forces erupted in the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir Monday after the highly revered Muslim shrine was destroyed in a fire, police said. The cause of the fire is yet unknown. — AP Photo
Kashmiri Muslim protesters and Indian paramilitary soldiers throw rocks and bricks at each other during anti-government protests after a fire destroyed a revered Muslim shrine in Srinagar, India, Monday, June 25, 2012. — AP Photo
Kashmiri Muslim protesters and Indian paramilitary soldiers throw rocks and bricks at each other during anti-government protests after a fire destroyed a revered Muslim shrine in Srinagar, India, Monday, June 25, 2012. — AP Photo

A fire destroyed a revered Muslim shrine in Indian administered Kashmir on Monday, prompting anti-government protests by residents angered over what they said was a slow response by firefighters.      

The cause of the fire at the 200-year-old shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani in the heart of Srinagar city was not immediately known. The blaze started from the roof shortly after morning prayers and quickly engulfed the wooden structure, a police official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The 11th century saint, popularly known worldwide as Ghaus-e-Azam, is buried in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The shrine, which held his relics, has served as an important center of Islamic and spiritual teachings in Kashmir. — AP

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