- A major fire destroyed Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Darbar in Adelaide, South Australia, late on Sunday night, with fears that the saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib may have been burnt in the blaze.
- The Sunday night diwan had concluded at around 9:30 pm, nearly an hour before the fire started.
- The fire broke out in the langar hall kitchen at around 10:30 pm (Australian time).
- The fire spread quickly from the kitchen to the main prayer hall.
- The roof of the main hall collapsed directly onto the Palki Sahib.
- The fire was described as extremely intense, with several explosions reported inside the langar hall.
- A large part of the gurdwara building collapsed within a short time because of the blaze.
- Police and emergency services sealed off the area and did not allow community members to enter the gurdwara premises.
- Although firefighters have now brought the fire under control, officials are continuing to assess the damage and investigate the cause of the incident.
A major fire broke out at Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Darbar in Adelaide, South Australia, late Sunday night, with fears that the Guru Granth Sahib saroops may have been burnt in the blaze. The fire ignited in the langar hall kitchen around 10:30 pm (Australian time), shortly after the Sunday night diwan concluded at 9:30 pm.123
The flames spread rapidly, leading to the collapse of the main prayer hall roof, which fell directly onto the saroop of the Guru Granth Sahib. Gurdwara management stated it is too early to confirm the condition of the sacred texts. Kuldip Singh Gargaj, Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, urging the Sikh community worldwide to remain vigilant and ensure adequate safety measures in Gurdwaras.4
The fire was described as extremely intense, with reports of several explosions within the langar hall. Emergency services quickly sealed off the area, preventing community members from entering the premises. Although firefighters have managed to control the blaze, officials are still assessing the damage and investigating the cause of the fire.68
This incident has raised significant concerns within the Sikh community regarding the preservation of their sacred texts and the safety of Gurdwara facilities.
“The fire, which started in the langar hall kitchen, was intense, leading to several explosions and the rapid collapse of a large part of the building. Kuldip Singh Gargaj, Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, expressed sorrow over the incident and urged the Sikh community to ensure better safety measures in Gurdwaras.”
PTC News
