Two idols of goddess Parvati were allegedly found in a well near the Bhasma Shankar Temple which was reopened on Friday after 46 years in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal. Morning aarti was being performed at the temple that houses an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling.
The temple had remained locked since 1978 after the communal riots that led to the displacement of the local Hindu community, locals claimed.
Sambhal Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shrish Chandra said broken idols were found during the digging of the well. "There is an idol of Lord Ganesh. The other one seems to be of Lord Kartikeya, more details are being sought. There was debris and soil in the well. The idols were discovered when it was dug...The area has been secured so that excavation can be done smoothly," he said.
"While inspecting the region, we stumbled upon this temple. Upon noticing it, I immediately informed the district authorities," PTI reported quoting Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra, who was leading a campaign against electricity theft in the area.
"We all came here together and decided to reopen the temple," Mishra said. The temple had been closed for decades and the local residents confirmed it had been locked since 1978.