A damaged Idol of Deity found in the basement : Gyanvapi 2nd day survey

• Five symbols like Kalash and lotus found

• A 2 ft Trishul also found

Varanasi (UP) – The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started the survey of Gyanvapi premises on 4th August 2023, after obtaining permission from Varanasi District Court, Allahabad High Court, and finally, Supreme Court and the findings of the second day’s survey have been recorded. Advocate Sudhir Tripathi, pleader of the women petitioners said, there is a basement near the statue of Nandi which is stated to be of Sage Vyas. A damaged Idol was found when it was opened, besides five Kalash and a lotus.

Sita Sahu, a petitioner, said that a 4 ft big Idol was found in which half of the body is of a human and half is of an animal. It is claimed to be an Idol of Narasimha. Remnants of a broken pillar were also found, along with a 2-ft Trishul and five Kalash. Video recording has also been done of this part.

Advocate Anupam Dwivedi, pleading for Rakhi Singh, another petitioner, informed that the Muslim side cooperated in the survey carried out today. The Archaeological Survey of India has been minutely surveying everything and making recordings of its findings. The basement near the statue of Nandi had to be cleaned first as it was very dirty. Three-dimensional photos are taken of the Gyanvapi area with the help of a machine.

(Credit : OpIndia)

The survey was conducted from 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in the morning session and later, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. A team of 61 people from ASI is working on this case. Security has been tightened around the Gyanvapi area by deploying additional Police force.

The Muslim side first refused to hand over the key to the basement, but with the intervention of the Administration, the key was handed over and the basement was opened.