A day after shop fire, Bur Dubai temple reopens to worshippers
Deputy UAE Editor
The Hindu temple in Bur Dubai reopened at 6pm yesterday, a day after the area was cordoned off following a fire in two shops within the complex early on Monday morning. As the premises opened, Vasu Shroff, chairman of the Sindhi Gurudwara, told Gulf News, “Everything is fine. Water and electricity to the temple have been restored. The alley in which the gutted shops are located have been cleared and the public can visit the temple again.”
Freezer short circuit
Jaya Prem Dhansinghani, owner of the Khalifa Adnan Novelties gift store, which was gutted in the fire said, “From what we know so far, the fire started in a shop in front of ours due to a short circuit in the freezer connection. It quickly spread to our store and destroyed everything that was inside. We are now trying to estimate the extent of the huge damage.”
Asked if they planned to move out of the area, Dhansinghani said, “We do not plan to shift. Once we get the necessary permission, we will get the power connections restored and renovate the premises.”
Shroff said there are around 30 shops in the area, with most of them having shifted to the outer periphery of the complex.
He said this was not the first time there was a fire in the temple complex. “The first occurred in 1975 when the temple area was completely gutted. We subsequently rebuilt the structure. The second fire was around 20 years ago when my earlier office adjoining the temple went up in flames,” said Shroff.
According to Shroff, the temple will mark the Hindu festival of Mahashivarathri slated for February 21 as planned.
“We are expecting 50,000-60,000 people during the course of the day,” he added.