HYDERABAD, India, 4 November 2006 — The auditorium in the world famous Salar Jung Museum in the city was gutted in a major fire yesterday morning but museum officials said that the priceless collection of antiques and other objects d’art, as well as the nizam’s fabulous jewelry in a nearby enclosure, were safe. No one was injured in the accident. Friday is the weekly holiday for the Salar Jung Museum.
According to museum director A. Narender Reddy, the fire broke out in the western block of the museum at around 7.30 a.m. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who are deployed for the security of the museum, noticed the fire and immediately alerted the fire services. In all, five fire tenders from Moghulpura and Gowlipura rushed to the spot immediately to put out the fire. But before they could finally put out the raging blaze, the museum’s auditorium, with a seating capacity of 260, was gutted. False ceiling, furniture and carpets were destroyed in the fire. The waste material kept into a store room was also lost.
The Salar Jung Museum is the third largest museum in India, housing the biggest one-man collection of antiques in the world dating back to the 1st century.
Salar Jung III Mir Yousuf Ali Khan (1889-1949), former prime minister of the seventh nizam of Hyderabad, spent a substantial amount of his income over 35 years for the priceless collection.
The museum director said that the “fire broke out apparently due to short circuit.” He also said that the fire alarm system in the building did not function. “We have to find out the exact cause of the accident. The usual practice is that we put off the electricity in all the galleries and buildings after 9.30 p.m. every day. Last night, there was a rehearsal in the auditorium for a cultural program to be staged on Salar Jung III’s 121st birth anniversary. The museum staff and their family members participated in the rehearsal and they dispersed at 9.30 p.m.”
On getting the information, apart from the fire services personnel, city police personnel, municipal corporation and Hyderabad District Collectorate officials rushed to the spot. District Fire Officer G.V. Narayana Rao said that the fire services personnel initially faced problems in tackling the situation.
“Initially, we had some problem in going into the auditorium as it is situated in a cellar. The smoke also engulfed the first floor. We broke the glass panes of the windows and our personnel went inside,” he said.
