Lighting strikes Baba Fareed shrine, gutted Guv, CM directs early restoration

SRINAGAR: The century old holy Shrine of Hazrat Baba Fareed (R.A.) was completely damaged due to lightning at Garkote area in Uri in Baramulla district even as Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed concern and directed early restoration of the shrine.

The holy shrine of Baba Fareed at Garkote was gutted in a fire caused after lightning struck it and completely damaged it. Expressing concern over the damage caused to the holy shrine, Governor N N Vohra advised the state government and all the other concerned authorities to take immediate steps for restoring the shrine.

“The governor advised the concern department to bring the glory of shrine back to its original,” a Raj Bhavan spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti directed the Baramulla deputy commissioner to visit the shrine and take necessary measures for the restoration of the shrine.
Locals said that during rain in midnight, a sudden flash of fire was seen at the top of the shrine followed by an earsplitting thunderbolt which resulted damage to several parts of the shrine.

The century old shrine is dedicated to the sufi mystic Fariduddin Ganjshakar, popularly known as Baba Fareed. The shrine is also revered by sikhs and is often visited by followers from all around the world.