KATHMANDU, NEPAL, June 26, 2005: A fire broke out at Nepal’s revered Pashupatinath temple complex Sunday, damaging a building and gutting old documents. The fire broke out at around 11 p.m. at the Agam Griha, officials of the Pashupatinath Area Development Trust entrusted with looking after the temple – one of the most hallowed Hindu pilgrimage sites – told IANS. The Agam Griha, near the western gate of the temple and about 50 metres away from the main temple, is a two and a half-storeyed building where the priests are accorded their initiation and other special forms of worship are performed. The fire could be brought under control only around 3 p.m. While angry priests alleged deliberate vandalism, officials said a seven-member team has been formed to investigate into the blaze. The probe panel has been asked to submit its report in three days. While the private media said old documents and valuable images had perished in the fire, the officials said the extent of the damage has not yet been ascertained.
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