Fire damages revered shrine in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: A historic shrine  holding relics of the Holy Prophet was damaged in a fire on Saturday at Soura on the outskirts this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital, police and eyewitnesses said.

There was no damage to the relics, police said.

Residents of the area said they heard the sound of a blast that sparked a fire in the shrine's dome on Saturday afternoon.

"The fire spread to the top floor of the shrine. Fire tenders reached the spot immediately and were able to control the blaze," said Mudasir a resident of the area.

A senior police officer, however, said the fire started after an electric short circuit.

Hundreds of angry residents came out on the streets and pelted stones at the police and paramilitary forces that had been rushed to the area.