Reconstructing to its former grandeur: ASI team visits Odisha to assess damage done by cyclone Fani in in Puri and Bhubaneshwar

Bhubaneshwar, May 11: Odisha is known as the state of ‘Utkala’ with unparallel temple architecture. The footprints of this ancient glorious culture of temples are all over the Bhubaneshwar and Puri and all over the state. But recent April cyclone Fani damaged these temples on large scale.

To assess this damage in aftermath of Fani, A high-level team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials led by DG ASI, Smt. Usha Sharma is on a visit to Odisha to assess the nature and quantum of damage caused by cyclone Fani to Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri and Sun Temple, Konark.

The team visited the Konark on 10th May 2019. The team observed that by and large there is no structural damage to the Monument. More than 200 trees have been damaged which are being cleared. 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.

The team is now in the process of visiting Sri Jagannath Puri Temple to assess the damage. 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 Monuments including Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri. He found certain damages on the Surface but no major damage to the structure of the temple.