[1]Thiruvananthapuram: Fears of robbers stealing priceless gems and ornaments from the chambers of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple here have been allayed as a scientific probe has ruled out the existence of underground tunnels linking the temple with Kowdiar Palace and the Arabian Sea.
“The Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) has ruled out the presence of any such tunnels,” top sources in the police said on Wednesday.
They said CESS scientists could not detect tunnels below the temple though it was generally believed underground cavernous passages were intact.
“As such, there is no urgent need for fresh steps to strengthen the security at the temple against any underground sabotage attempts,” a top police officer said. The preliminary evaluation of a part of the temple treasure, submitted by an expert committee to the Supreme Court, automatically scales up the security apparatus necessary to protect the priceless treasure, for instance a locket studded with 997 diamonds, 19.5 lakh gold coins and 14,000 gold-plated floral decorations.
Fears were that the tunnels beneath the temple posed a threat to the treasures in the vaults.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/padmanabhaswamitemplejpg-177