Hyderabad, Nov. 25 -- The raging fire at the Gomathi Enterprises Shahalibanda on Monday night has badly damaged the historic Shahalibanda clock tower.

The clock had stopped working at 10.21 pm, after fire broke out at the electronics showroom followed by a powerful CNG cylinder explosion. The tall tower cum gateway to the sprawling compound suffered damages too.

The clock tower is part of the big royal residence (Devdi). A large portion of the magnificent palace was demolished slowly and the clock tower and some parts of the noble edifice remain now. Historians say that the Devdi belonged to the family of Rai Raiyans, the Daftardar (revenue officer) in the court of the third Nizam Sikandar Jah from 1795-97.

The clock tower, also known ...