No hidden chamber inside Jagannath Temple, says Odisha minister citing ASI’s technical survey

“Though it may take some time to get the final survey report, preliminary consultations suggest that there are no more secret tunnels. The survey was, however, helpful to find out in detail the cracks inside the Ratna Bhandar. The ASI will adopt a permanent solution to repair the cracks,” Harichandan told reporters.

Amid speculations over the existence of a secret tunnel inside the treasure trove and demands for a detailed inspection, the state government allowed ASI to carry out the technical survey.

Following a request from the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the ASI conducted the technical survey in mid-September. The technical survey team also comprised scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).

While first the laser scanning of the treasure trove was conducted, the team also conducted mapping of the treasury and generated data. The data collected by the team is being analysed and processed following which the final report will be out, said officials.

The Odisha government on July 14 opened the inner Ratna Bhandar of the 12th Century shrine after 46 years. Subsequently, the ornaments and other valuables of the sibling deities stored inside the treasure house were shifted to a temporary Ratna Bhandar opened inside the temple premises.

The law minister said because of the rush of devotees of the temple in the holy month of Kartik, the ASI would start repair work of the temple by November-end.

“The repair work would take around a month-and-a-half. After completion of the repair works of the treasury, the government will shift the valuables following which the inventory process would start, may be in January,” said Harichandan.

Since the last inventory of the Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath temple was done in 1978, the law minister said they will tally the new inventory list with the previous one to ascertain whether all valuables are intact.

The opening and safety of the Ratna Bhandar was a major poll plank that the ruling BJP used to dislodge the previous Biju Janata Dal government under Naveen Patnaik.