DHARAMSHALA: A huge blaze ravaged the ancient Tibetan town of Gyalthang (incorporated into China’s Yunnan province) destroying over 300 homes on late Saturday,11 January.
More than 1000 fire fighters and volunteers were deployed after the blaze damaged almost two-thirds of the old town, reports say. There are no human casualty so far.
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, currently in New Delhi on an official visit, expressed deep concern at the destruction caused by the fire in Gyalthang.
He called for a quick restoration of the ancient Tibetan town, urging that the restoration should be done according to the traditional Tibetan style.
He also expressed that restoration processes should be fair and unbiased. During the restoration in Kyigudo,Yushul in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake, lands were illegally grabbed by unscrupulous Chinese authorities, leading to protests by local Tibetans including a self-immolation by a Tibetan woman.
The fire at Gyalthang followed the blaze at another influential Buddhist institute– the Larung Gar monastery in Serthar, located in the nearby province of Sichuan.
Earlier in November 2013, a massive fire destroyed the main prayer hall of Lithang monastery in Karze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. The fire at Gyalthang was the third such blaze in less than three months.
Some news reports also suggest an ‘urban renewal’ drive by the Chinese government, which saw dozens of old structures dismantled through fake accidents. With this latest accident, the Old Town, primarily Tibetan homes, has now been seriously decimated.
