A steel portal frame has been erected to support one of the rock beams of the Tiruvannamalai temple Raja Gopuram where a shear crack was found. This is a temporary measure to pre-empt further deepening of the crack before permanent repair is carried out as suggested by Arun Menon, Assistant Professor of IIT Madras, who inspected the crack recently.
Second line of defence
Mr. Menon said the portal frame would serve as a second line of defence and the crack could be permanently repaired by adopting a method called steel stitching.
Since the portal beam has been placed under the beam, the Raja Gopuram entrance has been closed for devotees and the temple administration allows them through Thitti Vasal, a kind of wicket gate situated near the gopuram.
