Puri: A few unidentified persons reportedly broke open the hundi at Gundicha Temple in Puri on Wednesday and decamped with the cash in it.
The theft was detected in the morning by temple officials, who went to the hundi at Garudastambha near Jagamohan of the temple to collect the donation amount.
“The miscreants had cut open the hundi. There was around Rs 5 lakh in it. Steps will be taken to install CCTV cameras inside the temple after holding a discussion with the managing committee members and Chhatisa Nijog,” an official informed.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has lodged an FIR at Kumbharapada police station in connection with the theft, the official added.
The incident occurred just two days after Lord Jagannath and his siblings returned to Shree Mandir after spending seven-day at the temple. It said that cash amounting to lakhs of rupees was dropped in the hundi by devotees during the deities’ seven-day stay.