Fire damages Gurdwara in Melbourne

Malaysia News.Net
Wednesday 13th January, 2010 (IANS)

A fire broke out in a partially-built Gurdwara in this Australian city, causing damage to the shrine, an official said.

Police were investigating the fire that damaged the partially-built Gurdwara in Melbourne's south-east, ABC Online reported Wednesday.

Officials suspect a bonfire on the site may have started the blaze that broke out on Evans Road at Lynbrook around 12.30 a.m. They don't believe the temple was targeted by arsonists.

Phillip Charles from the Country Fire Authority said the fire would have been more serious if the Gurdwara had been completed.

'On arrival we found three seats of fire within the building,' ABC Online quoted Charles as saying.

'Luckily the structure of the building is poured concrete, so structurally the building is still sound.

'But there was damage to some of the contents.'

There have been a string of attacks on Indians in Australia since last year, causing an outcry in India.

Two of the attacks proved fatal. While Ranjodh Singh was killed in New South Wales Dec 29, another Indian Nitin Garg was fatally stabbed here Jan 2.

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