Chandigarh | An early morning fire destroyed a gurdwara called Guru Ram Das Sikh community temple in the eastern part of Vancouver city in Washington state in the US on Saturday. Two persons reportedly at the site during the time of the incident are safe and alleged that they heard a ‘popping’ sound around 2.30 am.

President of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) Satnam Singh Chahal said law enforcement agencies and fire department are investigating the cause of the fire but added that the possibility of a hate crime could not be ruled out. Chahal said some people had opposed the construction of gurdwara on grounds that the service may be too noisy.

Hindustan Times | October 14, 2012