Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma requesting him to send a team of experts of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to survey and assess the damages caused to Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri because of cyclone ‘Fani’.
In his letter sent Thursday, Patnaik cited media reports that quoted servitors of the temple who claimed of possible structural damaged to the temple owing to the steel barricade and extremely severe cyclonic storm that made landfall near the holy town May 3.
“It is reported that significant damage has been caused to the infrastructure of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. Even the Sun Temple is reportedly closed for tourists,” the CM wrote in the letter requesting for top level of experts to visit the famous structures.
“As ASI is the concerned agency for maintenance and upkeep of these world famous temple sites, I would request you to consider deputing a high level of experts to assess the damages caused to these structures so that appropriate remedial measures can be undertaken by the ASI at the earliest, especially keeping in view the Rath Yatra scheduled on 4th July this year,” (SIC) wrote Patnaik.
It may be mentioned here that several news reports pointed to water leakage into the sanctum sanctorum during the cyclone. That apart, reports of damage to the structure was also suspected as the iron barricade erected to protect the temple was seen colliding with the temple structure repeatedly during the storm.
Several sculptures including the ‘Jay’ statue at the lion gate, a lion statue on the main temple had fallen off during the storm. Besides, damage to the ‘neelachakra’ (structure to hold the temple flag) atop the temple is also suspected necessitating an expert analysis.