Shimla, January 10:
During the removal of debris from the ancient palace of the erstwhile Keonthal State, which was severely damaged in a massive fire last week, damaged idols of the presiding deity Junga and other deities were recovered on Saturday.
It may be recalled that a major fire broke out in the historic palace last Wednesday, causing extensive damage to a portion of the structure. The main temple of deity Junga, located within the palace complex, was also buried under the debris. The fire was eventually brought under control with the combined efforts of the fire brigade, police, home guards and local residents.
For the past three days, hundreds of people from the Keonthal region have been actively engaged in clearing debris and searching for the idols from the palace and the temple. On Saturday, all the idols housed in the temple were finally recovered, though they were found in a damaged condition.
Rajmata Vijay Jyoti Sen and King Khush Vikram Sen were personally present during the kar seva undertaken to retrieve the buried idols and remains of the Junga temple. They described the incident as a tragic loss, stating that the devastating fire caused irreparable damage to the historical and cultural heritage of the Keonthal State, amounting to losses worth several crores of rupees. They further informed that, along with the temple and idols, the priceless treasure of the deity Junga kept inside the palace was also completely destroyed in the fire.
Rajmata Vijay Jyoti Sen said that a meeting would soon be convened to discuss the reconstruction and renovation of the temple, with the aim of restoring this invaluable historical heritage of the Keonthal region.
Clarifying media reports, she stated that the palace is not 200 years old, as being projected, but nearly 800 years old. She emphasized that the palace represents an important heritage of the 22 Tikas and 18 Thakurais of the erstwhile Keonthal State, and it is the moral responsibility of the people of the region to preserve it. She also added that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
