662 more cannon balls unearthed in Pune

A day after 824 cannon balls of the historic era were recovered while digging a trench for laying a pipeline,another 662 of them were recovered on Friday at Khadak Police Line near Swargate. With this,the total number of cannon balls unearthed in two days has gone up to 1,486. Authorities expect more cannon balls in the ground.

A bomb disposal company of the southern command tested the cannon balls at the firing range in Dighi on Friday. It found the cannon balls live,but not harmful as the amount of explosive (gun powder) content was very less.

The cannon balls were unearthed during the pipe laying work undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation and Public Works Department. On Thursday,824 cannon balls,each around four inches in diameter and weighing 2.660 kg,were unearthed. All the 824 balls have been kept in a gymnasium room at the police line,which was later sealed by the police.

According to the bomb disposal company personnel,the cannon balls would not explode even if a heavy vehicle went over them.