Srinagar, Oct 10 (IANS): A three-member team of the National Museum in New Delhi has begun conserving the historical artefacts and manuscripts at the Shri Pratap Singh (SPS) Museum in Srinagar that suffered extensive damage during the recent floods.

The state government had taken up the matter of conservation of the SPS Museum with the National Museum and the Lucknow-based National Research Laboratory For Conservation Of Cultural Property (NRLC).

The National Museum expert team is headed by R.P. Savita. The team has started the process of conservation of several museum articles jointly with local museum conservation lab.

The museum collections include antique paintings, manuscripts, textiles and other art objects.

The devastating floods in the Kashmir Valley badly spoilt the SPS Museum. Almost all the major sections of the museum were submerged in flood water.

An official statement said the government wants to open the museum for the general public as soon as possible.