Dharmendra Pradhan visits Jagannath temple, inspects damage caused by Fani
Puri, May 19 (UNI): Union petroleum minister Dharmedra Pradhan on Sunday visited the Jagannath temple here and inspected the damage to 12th century shrine caused by the cyclonic storm Fani earlier this month.
This was Pradhan’s second visit to the temple since Fani hit. He last visited on May 4, the day after the cyclone hit the Puri coast.
Soon after inspection of the temple, the Union minister told mediapersons that a detailed discussion had been held with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is responsible for the temple's conservation.
He said the ASI has assured to complete the repairs before the Snan purnima, the grand bathing ritual of the Trinity to be held on June 17. The annual Rath Yatra of lord Jagannath would be held on July 4.
Pradhan said the Union government had extended all possible help to the state government to provide relief to cyclone ravaged families of Puri and other districts.
On Saturday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik took stock of the damage of temple and asked the ASI to complete the repairs before June 17.
Fani did not cause any damage to the Sun temple at Konark. However, much of the greenery around the temple was destroyed.
Image credit: UNI
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