Car razes 100-yr old western pillar of Palace Gate
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 01 2022: The 100-year old brick pillar on the western end of Palace Gate was razed to the ground by a car on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Art and Culture director L Kishworjit Singh has assured of reconstructing the pillar before the commencement of Sangai Festival, which is scheduled to begin from November 21 .

According to a police report, a silver colour Honda Amaze (MN 01G 2347) hit the historical brick pillar around 8.45 pm on Monday, toppling it to the ground.

The car, driven by one Thongmeilun Haokip (49) s/o (L) Ngamhao Haokip of Haokip Veng, Imphal East District, also suffered damages.

However, no injuries were reported.

Porompat police has seized the car and a case has been registered in this regard.

Meanwhile, a PHED team led by Art and Culture director L Kishworjit Singh and accompanied by State Archaeology superintendent Shashikanta K inspected the toppled pillar on Tuesday.

The team also saw to the careful collection of the old bricks, Surkhi (mixture of lime, black lentils and brickdust) and the iron fitted for the gate, so as to reuse the same in the reconstruction process.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle in this regard, director L Kishworjit recounted that the pillar has been part of Manipur's history for over 100 years.

However, it was toppled owing to an unfortunate car accident on Monday night.

He informed that the Palace Gate has two pillars, one on the east and the other on the west, which was damaged on Monday.

The new western pillar will be reconstructed similar to the one on the eastern side.

The old materials used in building the pillar are vastly different from what are being used today.

As such, the old materials used in building the pillar including the bricks and Surkhi (mixture of lime, black lentils and brick-dust) have been carefully collected, along with the remains of the iron used for fitting the gate in the old days.

Efforts will be made to complete the reconstruction before the commencement of the Sangai Festival, he added.

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