Hunt for treasure continues even as ICSE exams begin

The wait for the study report of the battery of tests conducted by National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) researchers at Naubat Pahad in Vidyaranya School campus continues even as the first day of ICSE exams in the school passed off without any incident.

There was relative calm at the school premises as the excavations of Archaeology Department were called off on February 20 and geophysical explorations of NMDC researchers was finished on February 24.

Elaborate security was provided during the exams at the school. Even parents of the children, who accompanied them to the exam centre, were not allowed inside.

NMDC officials on Monday reiterated that they were invited by the Archaeology Department to only determine the presence of a tunnel and not a treasure. The study report of NMDC is expected to be submitted to the Archaeology Department by this weekend.

“I want to clarify that NMDC is not involved in the business of hunting for treasures so we are not commenting on any treasure. The Archaeology Department requested us to determine the opening of a tunnel and we have finished our study. We are interpreting the data and the report will be submitted in four days,” said General Manager (Resource Planning), NMDC, Paneer Selvam on Monday.

Officials are yet to decide on the modalities of taking up excavations if the NMDC report confirms presence of a storage room or a tunnel at Naubat Pahad.

Authorities, earlier, had assured the school management to take up excavations, if needed, in April during vacations.

Meanwhile, parents at Vidyaranya School heaved a sigh of relief. “There is a semblance of normalcy today and we can only hope that our children are not disturbed or distracted during exams,” said Ramya, a parent. The ICSE exams will conclude on March 26.

The NMDC researchers used three methods in their studies at the site.