Setting alarm bells ringing, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Suresh Mahapatra has said the condition of Shreemandir’s Jagamohan is in a very serious condition and needs repair on war footing.
He told the media that after the scaling of lime plaster from the temple walls for repair, it was found by the technical core committee that the eight beams holding the roof of Jagamohana have hundreds of cracks. The iron rods inside the beams have also rusted away.
The stone column capital on the north-west side, on which the Jagamohana’s ceiling rests, has developed a crack and a stone block is hanging out of it dangerously, posing the risk of a major accident.
In case of this stone column collapsing, it’s apprehended that the entire Jagamohana will cave in.
During removal of dead plaster, four stone blocks have got dislodged from their position in the ceiling of the Jagamohana. Cracks have been observed in the ceiling from where lime plasters have been removed.
Two stone blocks which have got dislodged from their position in the ceiling of the Jagamohana have been reinforced using steel brackets as a temporary measure.
“We need to take immediate preventive steps to save the Jagamohana. I have written to the ASI requesting them and experts from the IIT Chennai to discuss and create a support system to replace the frame,” said Mahapatra.