Fire guts Wangdue Dzong (update)
The fire, fueled by continued unexpected wind, completed destroyed one of the historic dzong, of the country Wangdue Dzong, on Sunday. Most people in their comments say, the incident is tragic, terrible and biggest loss for the nation.
The fire that started at around 4 PM from the entrance of the dzong has burned down except few historic relics, official documents and other artifacts of historic significance. The dzong was under renovation. Few important documents and relics were taken out for renovation, thus saved.
Firefighters, armed personnel and locals, including King Jigme Khesar, King Father Jigme Singye, Home Minister Minjur Dorji, Acting Prime Minister Yeshey Zimba, remain just spectators of the burning dzong. The fire engines were helpless, raising the questions if the country’s disaster management system is in place. Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley is away in Brazil to attend Rio+20 summit.
“I never realized I could be so useless and helpless. There was nothing I or the thousand people around me could do to save our Dzong. We watched our history burn,” one witness of the fire wrote on his wall. Others blame the country’s unpreparedness for such unforeseen tragedies and the deities, for not extending any help.
Intense heat from the flames which raged unabated for hours, made it impossible for the firefighters to go near the Dzong. The crowd that gathered around affected the works of firefighters, as the dzong’s access road is very narrow, and has to go over a ridge. The flames fueled by strong winds raged for almost three hours.
The government has issued notice that all government units, offices and educational institutions will remain closed on Monday to mourn the national tragedy.
The government has said cause of the fire has not been confirmed.
The historic fortress was built in the 17th century by Zhandrung Ngawang Namgyal. It was repaired in 1837 after a fire and an earthquake in 1897.
Updates to follow.
very sorry about that