Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Even after three days, parts of the historic Devgiri (Daulatabad) Fort continued to smoulder, thanks to the alertness of history enthusiasts who noticed it on Thursday. Upon discovering the smoke, fire suppression equipment was used to bring the situation under control. Meanwhile, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has undertaken the restoration of the affected portions of the fort.
It may be noted that the massive fire that broke out on April 8 (Tuesday) had engulfed dry vegetation across the fort, taking almost the entire day to contain. The blaze blackened large portions of the premises. Notably, wooden structures inside the Baradari walls were still smouldering days later.
On Thursday morning, Dr Rashmi Borikar, Shirish Tambe, and Rajendra Mudkhedkar visited the fort and noticed the smoke. They immediately alerted the fire brigade and ASI officials. Fire extinguishers were then used to douse the remaining embers.
Alerted Fire Brigade, ASI officials
Dr Rashmi Borikar said,"We were at the fort in the morning when we noticed smouldering wood in the Baradari walls. We tried to control it using bottled water and immediately called the fire brigade and ASI staff right from the fort."
Restoration Underway
Following the incident, the ASI has begun restoration work on sections of the fort that were damaged or deteriorating. History enthusiasts have expressed hope that, although limited, this effort will help mitigate the fort’s worsening condition.