Kolhapur’s iconic Keshavrao Bhosale Auditorium gutted in fire
Kolhapur: The Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagruha, the city’s cultural heritage and iconic landmark, was burnt to ashes on the eve of Sangitsurya Keshavrao Bhosale birth anniversary on Thursday night due to a short circuit.
It is seen as a big jolt to the cultural life in Kolhapur. Rajarshi Chhatrapti Shahu Maharaj built the auditorium and the Khasbaug Maidan Vyaspeeth (podium), which were gutted in the fire. The fire was so intense that the balcony of the theatre collapsed within a few minutes.
Kolhapur’s heritage building vanishes
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced Rs 10-crore funds to rebuild the auditorium. Many political leaders and citizens of Kolhapur expressed the wish to restore the city’s iconic auditorium. The artiste fraternity of the city is heart-broken. Many of them reached the landmark after hearing reports of its devastation. They had no other alternative but to watch the auditorium reduce to ashes. Hundreds of wrestlers have been trained at the adjacent Khasbaug Maidan. They earned fame across the country through the wrestling tradition of Kolhapur. However, to witness the icon of its cultural heritage in the heart of the city burning hurt them immensely.
Wooden structures collapsed in the blaze
The fire broke out at around 9.30 pm on Thursday. The rear portion of the auditorium and the Khasbaug Maidan podium were reduced to ashes. The stage, seating arrangement, and wiring were burnt completely. Though no casualty was reported, the historic structure was totally destroyed in the fire.
A huge amount of wooden material was used to build the auditorium, which caught fire immediately. All fire engines from across the Kolhapur district, including the ultra-modern engines stationed at the Kolhapur airport, rushed to the spot and were trying to bring the blaze under control for over 2.5 hours.
The teakwood structures of the auditorium and the Khasbaug Maidan podium caught fire immediately, which went out of control. Firemen found it tough to douse the flames. Sangitsurya Keshavrao Bhosale birth anniversary is celebrated on August 9. Therefore, a mandap was set up on the premises of the auditorium. This makeshift structure caused a big hurdle in putting out the fire. Meanwhile, the mandap was dismantled as the fire started raging. Then the fire engines could enter the premises.
Many officials from the district administrations, politicians gathered at the spot. But they had the misfortune to witness the destruction of Kolhapur’s iconic auditorium. Kolhapur experienced floods due to heavy rains a couple of days ago. But citizens’ prayers for more rains, which could have saved some portions of the theatre, did not help.
