Puri: Devotees on Thursday heaved a sigh of relief after the repair work of the axle of Devi Subhadra’s chariot was completed. After hours of hard work, the Moharana servitors replaced the axle which broke last evening.
The entire construction work was done under the supervision of engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Railways.
Earlier, the expert committee comprising engineers from Public Works Department (PWD) and members of chariot technical committee had inspected the construction of three chariots here today.
Measures were taken as per the suggestions of the committee, SJTA chief administrator Pradeep Jena said.
PWD secretary Nalinikant Pradhan said the chief engineer also visited the spot to take stock of the situation. Not only Debadalana, parts of other chariots will also be examined thoroughly before the festival, Pradhan added.
Meanwhile, fresh wood reached the chariot construction yard in the morning to replace the broken axle.
The Darpadalana axle broke last night not able to withstand the pressure of other parts of the Chariot, Chief Maharana of Nandighosh Rath Bijay Mohapatra said. This is not the first instance. Fault in the chariot of Devi Subhadra was also noticed last year and it was mended in time, he added.
Soon after the fault was noticed, the broken axle connecting the wheels near the brake was tied with iron chain temporarily.
Officials of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Collector and other officials rushed to the spot last night and decided to replace it with a new one.
Senior servitor, Ramchandra Das Mohapatra said a probe is needed into the broken axle incident. “As the chariot was constructed by experience Moharana’s with all required materials being provided, how the glitch occurred,” questioned Mohapatra.
Meanwhile, the Railway department had deputed its mechanical staff for repairing the axle.