Technical team detects crack in one axle of Nandighosh

Puri: The technical team comprising of engineers of works department during inspection detects crack in one of the axles of Nandighosh Rath and asked the Biswakarmas to replace it. On Thursday, the Biswakarmas tried to fix the crack with iron clamps. But on Friday after a thorough check the engineers suggested it’s replacement. Bijay Mahapatra, the Biswakarma of Nandighosh said the phasi timber had developed cracks after formation into axle and the crack is widening. Fresh timber for replacement of axle has been drawn from the stock and sized for replacement he said. Since the liad in axle is considerably high, it needs jacks to facilitate it’s replacement, he said. The ongoing work is at least four days ahead of the schedule and we will replace the axle, Biswakarma Bijay Mahapatra in-charge of the construction of the chariots said. In the meanwhile, East coast railway engineers who operate heavy jacks every year during pulling of chariots on Rath Yatra especially to give required turn to chariots have visited the construction site and earmarked the spots to fix the jacks to lift the structure for replacement of the axle. Bijay Mahapatra said seasoned and mature Phasi timber with
length over 40 feet are used to prepare the 21 axles for three Chariots. Phasi timber considered as strong ones and is used for axles, he said. While Nandighosh has 8 axles with 16 wheels, Taladhwaj of Balabhadra has 7 axles with 14wheels and Darpdalan of debi Subhadra has six axles with 12 wheels. The seasoned Phasi tree is scarce and it is increasingly difficult to get these. Following reports of shortage of Phasi trees, many devotees are donating Phasi trees and the temple administration is honouring them by presenting them mementos. The donations are now Shrinking. This year, the forest department had to collect the required timber from four districts. Phasi, Dhaura and Asan species of seasoned timber logs are chiefly used in construction of the chariots. Rath Yatra is scheduled to begin from July 1 this year.

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