DHARAMSHALA: The main prayer hall of the historic Lithang Monastery, Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling, in eastern Tibet, suffered huge damages caused by a massive fire that erupted on Saturday. At least two monks were injured in the incident.

The cause of the fire at the Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling monastery in Lithang county in Kardze prefecture (incorporated into China’s Sichuan province) late on Saturday remained unclear, Radio Free Asia reported.

“The cause of the fire is not known, but some suspect that it was caused by a butter lamp while others suspect a short circuit. Both Tibetans and Chinese living near the monastery tried to douse the fire but were unable to do so,” the report said.

The extent of the damage is still being investigated but other sources confirm that several precious artefacts including the statues in the shrine were extensively damaged and defaced by the inferno.

The Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling monastery, also known as Lithang monastery, was founded in 1580 by the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso.  

The monastery holds a significant place in the history of Tibetan struggle as it became a major target of bombardment by the Chinese communist forces in 1956.