Jammu: The government on Friday said that more than 15,000 books, including some rare books, of the SPS Central Library in Srinagar were damaged in the 2014 floods.

Replying to a question by BJP MLC Girdhar Lal Raina in the Legislative Council, Minister of State for Culture Priya Sethi said that 15,501 books of the SPS Central Library in Srinagar were damaged in the 2014 floods.

These included some rare books also, she said.

The minister also said, “It was incorrect that large number of costly and rare books were missing from our state libraries.”

She said that 58 rare books issued to renowned personalities by state libraries had not been returned in the past several years.

Those who have not returned books include several former government officials.

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