Kurnool Archaeological museum hosting priceless antiques devastated

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy/Kurnool

Kurnool Archaeological Museum hosting prehistoric to modern periodantiques, paintings, coins, sculptures, arms, pottery and talapatras was badly damagedin the floods of Handri river.Archaeology department Anantapur region Assistant director Mr Vijay Kumar who visitedthe museum in Kurnool told this newspaper that paintings of 18th century were spoiledas the flood water engulfed the museum. Officials are now worried over the fate of otherpriceless antiques.The glass show cases containing prehistoric stone tools, coins of Ikshvaka, Moghal,Sathavahana dynasties and sculptures of Chalukya period were floating in the building.Mr Vijay Kumar said ,"the paintings belong to modern period of 18th century that mayhave spoiled are less valuable when compared to other exhibits in the museum. Thetalapatras may also have got defiled. The remaining exhibits are intact but the showcases are floating in the hall in the water and mud. We may have to do the chemicaltreatment to restore them. We don't know about the fate of Old Holy Quran manuscriptbook in the museum. Only after clearing the mud and water is totally pumped out we cancome to a conclusion to what extent they are damaged," He added that exhibits arelocked in the show cases.Even the houses of the staff of Archaeology department are affected. Officials claimedthat they have put a 24 hour guard at the museum to prevent any thefts as the exhibitsvalue hundreds of crores in international market.The infrastructure of the museum including computers, furniture and files were marred inthe flood water.AP Archaeology department director Mr P Chenna Reddy ," I am obtaining reports fromall over the state on the flood damage to the museums and historic sites. KurnoolMuseum was one among archaeological properties that are badly hit. We are sure thatnone of the displays are washed away in the floods. We are making efforts to clean upthe mud,"Mr Chenna Reddy added that two temples of Vijayanagar period which are transplantedfrom Srisailam submergence area to Bannur in Jupadu Mandal in Kurnool district weresubmerged in the water. Siddeswaraswamy temple and Bujanganadha temple weretransplanted after the construction of Srisailam reservoir were also immersed in water.Archaeological museum at Alampur in Mahabunagar district was still submerged inwater. Mr Nayak Assistant Director of Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda region said ,"thereare around 250 sculptures dating from sixth to seventh century. The registry file werelost. We can't even reach the museum yet as there is still 12 feet water," He added thatthere is no back up for the registerArchaeological officials now want government to construct new buildings by raising theheight of the ground floor to prevent being flooded.