ASI team visits Jagannath temple

BHUBANESWAR: A two-member team of engineers of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) visited Jagannath Temple at Puri and inspected the stone which had fallen off the ‘dadhi nauti’ atop the western gate of the 12th century edifice. The broken pieces were put together using chemical adhesive to ascertain the exact shape of the stone which was placed at the entry gate. Weighing about a tonne, the engineers measured the whole stone before ASI Superintendent AK Patel and Director, Culture, Sisir Kumar Das arrived at the temple. The duo took stock of the situation and Das informed that the top stone will be re-installed. The existing ‘dadhi nauti’ will be replaced with a new one for which the measurements were carried out. A new stone will be brought in from the Tapanga stone quarry for this purpose and only khandelite variety of stone will be searched. Lack of repair by the ASI is stated to be the reason behind the sliding of the stone. The last repair was carried out about two and a half years back. As a result, the ‘dadhi nauti’ was in a state of dilapidation and the iron anglers placed to hold it were also in advanced stage of decay. One person was injured on Tuesday after the stone fell off. The Orissa  Government has already written to Ministry of Culture seeking improved care of the temple.