The World Heritage site of Sun temple at Konark has not suffered any infrastructure damage in the extremely severe cyclone, Fani.
This was informed by Usha Sharma, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) who along with a team of officials on Friday, May 10, 2019, assessed the extent of damage caused by Fani to the temple.
While there is no major structural damage to the ageing monument, the numerous scaffoldings that surrounded it has been dislocated. The team informed that there is a dislocation of the scaffolding set up for chemical cleaning of the upper portion of the monument. More than 200 trees have either been uprooted or damaged in the cyclonic storm while electrical illumination and digital entry systems of the monument have been completely damaged. While the monument has been closed since May 3, restoration works will be completed within a fortnight, said Sharma. The monument will open for the public in the next three days.
The ASI plans to complete chemical cleaning and consolidation of the eastern face of the monument on a priority basis. The team also assessed the damage in Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri. Earlier, the Superintending Archaeologist of Bhubaneswar circle had inspected ASI-protected monuments including the Puri temple and found certain damages on the surface. However, no major damage to the structure of the temple was found.
On Thursday, May 9, 2019, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written to Mahesh Sharma, Union Culture Minister to assess the damage caused to Sun temple and Sri Jagannath temple. The Central ASI team will also suggest restoration exercise needed for the monuments and the surrounding areas.
Source: The New Indian Express
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