Excavation for treasure continues for second day

1,000 tonne of gold is supposed to be buried under the ruins of 19th century fort

Excavation by archaeologists continued here for the second day today to hunt for the "dream" 1,000 tonne golden treasure supposed to be buried under the ruins of a 19th century fort.

The work started at 10 AM and excavation is being done by local workers under the supervision of four to five members of the Archaeological Survey of India, Sub Divisional Magistrate Vijay Shanker Dubey told PTI.

In view of the huge turnout of curious onlookers, additional forces have been deployed on the spot, Additional Superintendent of Police Sarvanand Singh said.

The excavation work is being carried out at the fort of king Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh in Unnao's Daudiakala village by a 12-member team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) led by its Deputy Director P K Mishra.

The gold rush was triggered after a seer Shoban Sarkar claimed that the Raja had appeared to him in a dream and told him that 1,000 tonne of gold lay buried in the ruins of the fort.

The Raja, who was hanged in 1858 after rising up against the Britishers, appeared in the dream of the seer and told him to take care of the gold treasure buried in the remains of the late king's fort, said Swami Omji, a follower of Sarkar.