Cracks Found In Roof Of Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandara

Puri: The much-awaited inspection of the Ratna Bhandara of Shri Jagannath Temple ended in the afternoon on Wednesday with the inspection team noticing crack in its roof.

Giving details to the media persons after the inspection, chief administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Pradip Kumar Jena said the 16 out of the 17 members authorised by the Chhatisha Nijog entered into the Ratna Bhandara by 2.30 pm after a thorough search by the police and the Bhandara Mekap.

“The lock of  the outer room of the Ratna Bhandara was opened in the presence of Amiya Mohanty, representative of the Gajapati Maharaja, Bhandara Mekap and Niti Prasasak of the temple. After entering into the outer room of the Ratna Bhandara, the members noticed several layers of dust in the roof and wall through search lights. Later, the members cleaned the dust with the brooms. The ASI engineers touched the roof and the wall and found it wet and damp,” Jena informed.

He further said while the members were about to proceed towards the inner chamber of the Bhitara (inner) Bhandara, they noticed an iron net between the two rooms of the outer Bhandara through which they could see all sides of the Bhitara Bhandara. “Since the members were able to see all sides of the inner chamber of the Bhitara Bhandara, they did not feel it necessary to open the room. The ASI core committee members would submit a detailed report to the SJTA which will be submitted to the Orissa High Court on April 5.

As per the information, SJTA would submit the inspection report relating to the condition of the Bhitara Bhandara to the Orissa High Court on Thursday. The report would be prepared on the basis of the information provided by the 16 members. After going through the report, the High Court would take a decision on the repair work of the Ratna Bhandara

Talking to media persons, Tadhau Karana Himanshu Patnaik said the inspection of the Ratna Bhandara has been made as per the standard operating procedure (SOP).

Stating that the team only inspected the outer room of the Bhitara Bhandara, he said cracks are found in the roof of the outer room of the Bhitara Bhandara.

As informed by Damodar Pradhani, a senior servitor of the temple, the servitors would sanitise the entire temple premises after some blood stains were found near the entrance door of the Ratna Bhandara. As per sources, Dr GC Mitra, chairman of the ASI Core Committee sustained injuries on his leg and knee after he stumbled with the treasury box of the outer room of the Bhitara Bhandara during inspection.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the Srimandir Managing Committee would be held at the Special Circuit House in Bhubaneswar in the evening. The meeting to be presided over by the Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb would be attended by the SJTA chief administrator, Puri collector and SP. Besides, all members of the Srimandir Managing Committee and the ASI members would also remain present at the meeting. Sources said that the meeting would review the inspection of the Ratna Bhandara earlier in the day.