Peshawar: Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar's century-old ancestral house, which was already in a dilapidated condition, has collapsed but the authorities say a replica would soon come up at the site. Only the front portion and the gate of the house, situated in Mohalla Khuda Dad near historic Qissa Khawani bazaar, are intact now, according Shakeel Waheedullah, General Secretary, Cultural Heritage Council.

Peshawar: Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar's century-old ancestral house, which was already in a dilapidated condition, has collapsed but the authorities say a replica would soon come up at the site. Only the front portion and the gate of the house, situated in Mohalla Khuda Dad near historic Qissa Khawani bazaar, are intact now, according Shakeel Waheedullah, General Secretary, Cultural Heritage Council.     

Prominent members of the city criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government for neglecting the preservation of the iconic structure even though it was declared a national heritage in 2014 by the archaeology department. Waheedullah said he submitted six applications to the KP government to draw their attention to the condition of the house but no action was taken.     

He said Saira Bano, wife of Dilip Kumar, has been informed about the condition of the house. "Saira Bano became dejected after she came to know about the collapse of the ancestral house of Dilip Kumar," he said. Ehtesham Toru, President Cultural Journalist Forum KP, said it was ironic that the ancestral house was not saved from destruction. Director of Archaeology and Museums, Abdul Samad, however, called the cave in a "blessing in disguise" as it will give them a chance to reconstruct the house.     Samad said the structure was in shambles and according to engineers it could not be conserved. "The only way to conserve this house was to reconstruct it as the structure was irreparable," Samad added. PTI