ASI Clarifies On Crack In North Gate Of Puri Jagannath Temple, Says Repair Work Soon

Puri: A day after a wide crack on ‘Gumuta’ (entrance arch) at north gate of Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri town evoked widespread concern, the ASI came out with a clarification on Monday.

Speaking to media persons, DB Garnayak, superintendent (Puri Circle), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said the crack has developed not on the ‘Gumuta’ but on a stone of ‘Pabhag’ (bottom part of the wall) of the north gate of the temple.

“The crack on the ‘Pabhag’ had developed long back when cables and pipelines were laid. Later, soil got deposited over the crack, making it invisible. When the soil was removed during construction works of the Parikrama Prakalpa (heritage project) around the temple, the crack reappeared,” he said.

Garnayk further said the experts have inspected the crack on the ‘Pabhag’ and it would be replaced with a new stone structure in two or four days.

As per Odishan style of temple architecture, the ‘Pabhaga’ is composed of mouldings called Khura, Kumbha, Pata, Kani and Basanta.

Also Read: Crack In ‘Gumuta’ Of Puri Jagannath Temple’s North Gate Widens