Rs 7 cr being spent on rebuilding Kashmir shrine

Srinagar, July 29 (UNI) The shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani, also known as Nund Reshi, at Charar-e-Sharief in Badgam district of central Kashmir is being reconstructed at a cost of Rs 7 crore.

During the current year, an amount of Rs 1.5 crore had already been released for the construction work.

The shrine of the 14th century Sufi saint, also known as Sheikhul Aalam and Alamdar-e-Kashmir (flag bearer of Kashmir), was gutted in a devastating fire that erupted after a fierce gun-battle between holed-up militants, led by Pakistani national Mast Gul, and security forces in May 1995.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad accompanied by his wife Shamima Azad today paid obeisance at the shrine, about 28 km from here. The couple prayed for peace and welfare of Jammu and Kashmir and its people.

Mr Azad inspected the construction work on the shrine and asked the project executing agency to speed up its completion so that devotees resume prayers immediately.

UNI