89-year-old temple bell found in drainage canal

Workers stumble upon artefact while cleaning canal

Whilr clearing silt in a drainage canal in Nellithope on Wednesday, Puducherry Municipality workers stumbled upon a metallic bell dating back to 89 years. It was wrapped in a gunny bag.

Inscription

The bell, weighing nearly 48 kg, had inscriptions on its side that said it belonged to Sri Muthu Vinayagar Sri Muthukumarasamy temple in Kosapalayam and it was made in 1927.

The municipal officials, who took possession of the bell and handed it over to the Orleanpet police, said the bell belonged to a temple in Kosapalayam.

Renovation on

The renovation of the temple was going on for the past six months and authorities could have removed the bell to facilitate the renovation work. Miscreants could have stolen the bell and dumped it in the drainage canal, they said.