The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is likely to laser scan the Ratna Pantra, the inner treasury chamber of Puri's famous 12th-century Jagannath temple. The archeology center is set to laser scan what is said to be a secret tunnel and a chamber containing precious jewels.

Puri's ex-royal Dipyasinghe Deb, chairman of the temple's management committee, said, “ASI will use a very sophisticated instrument to do laser scanning to find out if there is any secret tunnel inside the Ratna Punder.”

The temple management will hand over both the outer and inner chambers of the Ratna Bhandar to the ASI after a thorough inspection.

The inner room of the treasury was opened on Thursday and the valuables were temporarily moved to another safe room. This was done in order to take action to inspect the room.

After 40 years, the treasury chamber was opened a few days ago. Although there is no documentary evidence of any secret tunnel within the inner chamber, a section of servicemen claim that it exists.

Read in English: Secret tunnel inside Jagannath Temple? ASI to laser scan Ratna Bhandar

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the chairman of the oversight committee, Justice Biswanath Rath, said that no evidence of such a tunnel was found. He further told reporters that it took 7.5 hours to shift the jewelery elsewhere.

He added, “We never believe such theories as it is not based on any documentary evidence. We have replaced all the ornaments and valuables and examined the walls of the inner chamber and we do not find any probability of a secret tunnel,” Rath told reporters. However, he said it will be investigated.

As all the ornaments and valuables have been removed from the rooms, the focus is on exploration. The ornaments, which are stored in temporary rooms in the temple premises, will be shifted back to the Ratna Bhandar after the ASI completes the inspection, it said.

“Get all Read Read news instantly on Telegram app Tezzbuzz“