Secret tunnel in Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar? ASI takes up inspection work

With mystery and a lot of apprehensions surrounding the presence of secret tunnel in Puri Srimandir’s Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove), a high-level team of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday started preliminary inspection work.

A team of 26 experts from CSIR-NGRI under the supervision of Additional DG of ASI are involved in the inspection work. The inspection work will be undertaken using high-tech gadgets and other equipment to conduct a detail assessment and inspection inside the inner chamber of Puri Srimandir’s Ratna Bhanadar, the treasure trove of Lord Jagannath.

GPR survey is also likely to be conducted to find out if there is something below the earth or any void on walls inside Ratna Bhandar as several stories surrounding presence of secret tunnel has been widely discussed among public.

Earlier, all the valuables including gold ornaments of Lord Jagannath were shifted to temporary strong room inside the Puri Srimandir complex.

The inspection by the experts’ team assumes significance as subsequently, measures would be taken for the repair of the Ratna Bhandar owing to damage to its structure.