Kendrapara (Odisha), Nov 24: Stone blocks fell from the exterior wall of the 300-year-old Lord Baldevjew temple here today leaving the priests and devotees in a state of panic.
Though the temple was crowded because of ongoing holy ‘panchuka brata', nobody was hurt in the early morning incident. The stone blocks that fell off weighed more than 30 KG each.
The state government has taken up conservation work of the medieval Hindu shrine with state archaeology department carrying out conservation work.
“We have asked the department to prevent people from going to the repair place,” said Kendrapara Collector Durga Prasad Behera.
“As part of the conservation project of the ancient heritage site, de-plastering of the outer portions of the temple is being carried out presently. The stone blocks have fallen off the de-plastered zone. As the said portions had got weakened due to corrosion, the incident took place. There is no cause for worry regarding safety as scaffolding has been installed.
“We have asked the temple authorities to maintain distance from the repair spots”, said Curator, state archaeology department, Ashwini Kumar Satapathy said.
The Rs 50 lakh project under central-funded ancient heritage conservation grants has got underway, Satpathy said.
The temple was built in 1707 during the Marahatta subedar rule in this part of India. It's a four-way structure.
The Marahatta style of temple building was mostly simple without intricate stone cravings.
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