Security in place, ASI to begin work shortly: Unnao SDM on 'gold hunt'

The sub divisional magistrate of Unnao, Vijay Shankar Dubey, on Saturday said that security arrangements are completely in place, and added that Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials would begin their excavation work at a fort site to find 1000 tonnes of gold.

"There are ten ASI staff members. All the officials of ASI came here and they will start working in a while. Security is well arranged. There are ASI norms and we work according to the set procedures," he said.

The ASI is excavating a medieval fort near Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, after a local hermit Yogi Swami Shobhan Sarkar said that he had dreamt that 1000 tonnes of gold is buried under the ruins of a palace-cum-fort.

Local villagers and followers of the hermit said that they completely believe his prediction about the hidden gold, but expressed disappointed at the slow pace of work.

The hermit had reportedly written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suggesting that this treasure could be used to help the country recover from its economic slowdown.

Earlier on Thursday, the ASI had sent a team of archaeologists to the village of Daundia Khera in Uttar Pradesh to dig two 100-square-metre blocks by the side the palace fort.