Treasure hunt in Unnao enters fourth day

UNNAO: Putting an end to speculations about stoppage of treasure hunt at Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh fort here, the district administration resumed excavation work on the fourth day today to find hidden 1,000 tonnes of gold.

The excavation work in Dodiyakhera village resumed under the supervision of Archaeological Survey of India team this morning, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vijay Shanker Dubey said.

102 cm excavation work was done till yesterday, he said. There were rumours that due to doubt over finding gold, preparations were being made to stop the excavation work.

Village head Ajaypal Singh said as an old wall was recovered at the excavation site, and the work was being carried out slowly to keep it safe.

Archaeologists began digging on October 18 for the treasure which is supposedly buried under the ruins of the 19th century Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh fort on the basis of a seer's dream.

Surrounded by hundreds of onlookers, the excavation is being carried out amidst tight security at the fort by a 12-member ASI team led by its Deputy Director, P K Mishra.

The gold rush was triggered by seer Shoban Sarkar's claim that the Raja had appeared to him in a dream and told him that 1,000 tonnes of gold lay buried beneath the ruins of the fort.