Bhubaneswar, June 19: The Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is scheduled to be opened soon for a thorough inspection after a prolonged wait. 

Official sources indicate that preparations are underway to open the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th-century shrine on July 8, the day after the annual Rath Yatra begins.

D B Garnayak, the Superintending Archaeologist of ASI's Puri circle, stated that a comprehensive inspection of the Ratna Bhandar will be conducted in the presence of members from the core committee and technical committee after its opening on July 8. He mentioned findings from an earlier inspection in 2018, noting structural issues such as cracks in the structure, fallen stones, and missing iron rods.

Garnayak also highlighted that cracks were identified in the outer wall and joints during a laser scanning conducted at 49 points on the northern side in November of the previous year to assess structural stability. He expressed concerns that rainwater could be infiltrating through these cracks, emphasizing the deteriorating condition inside the Ratna Bhandar.

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