Inferno at the six-storey National Museum for Natural History building gutted the entire four main exhibit galleries up in first, second and third floor of the museum. The fourth floor, locating the library was also gutted, turning its 15,000 books into mere ashes. The fifth and sixth floor of the building had official documents that had no access for the public, were also reduced to a heap of ash. The museum’s famous attraction -- 160-million-year old Indian Dinosaur Sauropod’s fossil -- was also ravaged and two famous long- Billed Vultures’ specimen destroyed. The Discovery Room and Activity Room, special designed for children were also engulfed by the flames.
Museum Assistant Vikas Rana told The Pioneer that every day around 2,000-3,000 schoolchildren arrive at the museum to witness one of the most attractive Indian Heritages. He said, “The fire had destroyed entire collections of our birds and mammals specimen including that of some millions years old.”
In 2012, it was decided that the museum building will be relocated in a green-certified building at Bhairon Marg, near Pragati Maidan. However, the decision only remained on papers and museum was working in its old location.
The museum had special screening rooms to broadcast animated movies relating the India flora and fauna. “Our museum had an extensive collection of films on wildlife, ecology, conservation and the environment in general-all has been destroyed now,” added Rana.
Besides, fire destroyed what the museum has special for specially-abled children including Braille for visually-impaired. Herpetological specimens, preserved butterflies and mounted specimen were also gobbled up by the fire.