Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Divya Singha Deb, has suggested that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) could use modern technology to investigate the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar at Shree Jagannath Temple for hidden tunnels or secret chambers.
Deb’s comments came amid ongoing speculation about a potential hidden tunnel in the temple's treasury.
On Thursday, Deb proposed that advanced tools, such as laser scanning, might be employed to probe the inner chamber’s structure.
Such technology could provide a detailed survey and uncover any concealed features that may not be visible through traditional inspection methods.
However, Justice Biswanath Rath, chairman of the supervisory committee and a former Orissa High Court judge, reported otherwise after a thorough inspection of the Ratna Bhandar.
Rath, who spent over seven hours inside the inner chamber with ten committee members, stated unequivocally that no evidence of a tunnel or secret chambers was found. He urged the public and media to avoid spreading misinformation.
Committee member Durga Dasmohapatra also confirmed that no hidden chambers or tunnels were detected.
He noted that while some minor issues were observed, such as small stones falling from the roof and a crack in the wall, the floor of the Ratna Bhandar was not as damp as initially feared.
The Ratna Bhandar, measuring approximately 20 feet high and 14 feet long, did not reveal any signs of concealed structures during the inspection.
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