Abandoned Manama building nest for paranormal activities?

TDT | Manama                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Zahra Ayaz

A few years after it was built, the infamous Manama structure, also known as the "haunted building," began to generate rumours of terrifying tales and paranormal activities.

The building was constructed by a Kuwaiti investor in the middle of the 1970s. After a few years, in the 1980s, its residents left, and it soon became popular among those looking for rental properties.

The Kuwaiti investor is said to have left Bahrain a long time ago and was affluent enough to leave it in what is now the middle of the capital, according to sources. Furthermore, it is believed in Bahraini society that one should not associate with or invest in structures that have a false history.

The Daily Tribune interviewed a few neighbourhood residents about the rumours, and many said that it has been abandoned for years and claimed that it is haunted, while others thought that people were engaging in criminal activity there, making it unsafe to enter.

"The kind of rumours we heard from others were doors and windows slamming and children crying from the fifth level," a passing resident remarked. Speaking to The Daily Tribune, a coldstore owner, Bilal, said: "Frankly, it’s unbelievable that these rumours still exist.

I have been working and living in this area for many years, and not once have I seen or heard anything suspicious." There are some people who go inside, maybe for taking videos or exploring, but that’s it; no one really goes."

He intends to dispel these rumours, and the building must be rebuilt, its amenities updated, and painted. Then it will be a magnificent building, with tenants coming to rent offices on its floors and re-let some of its vacant shops.

The Daily Tribune learned that there seem to be many such abandoned buildings and houses all over the Kingdom. Earlier, it was reported that the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) wants to preserve some of the older ‘heritage homes’ in the areas as they are part of Bahrain’s history, but those beyond repair need to be demolished for safety reasons.

"There are at least 350 abandoned dangerous buildings that pose a threat to the people in the area, and the issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible," it said.