Odisha: ASI team visits Sun temple and Jagannath temple to assess Fani damage

The team visited the Konark in forenoon today and found that by and large there is no structural damage to the world heritage Monument.

However, there has been some dislocation in the scaffolding provided for chemical cleaning at the upper level which is being set right.

More than 200 trees have been damaged. The electric and illumination system including internet access has gone out of order, restoration of which will take some time.

The monument will be opened to the public in the next 2-3 days. The chemical cleaning and consolidation of the eastern face will be completed on priority. The monument will be restored back to normal within about a fortnight, official sources said.

The state government had sought help from the ASI to assess the damage caused to these world heritage monuments. The team will also suggest restoration exercise needed for the monuments and the surrounding areas.

Earlier, the superintending archaeologist, Bhubaneswar Circle ASI, had inspected the Jagannath temple in Puri and found certain damages on the surface but no major damage to the structure of the temple.

The team will visit the 12th century Sri Jagannath temple at Puri to assess the damage caused by the cyclone Fani which hit the Puri coast on May 3 and played havoc in the coastal Odisha devastating the public infrastructures, kaccha houses and buildings.

Image credit: UNI