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Excavation, restoration of ancient well begins in Sambhal in UP

Posted on by Nargang
Excavation, restoration of ancient well begins in Sambhal in UP


Sambhal:

The administration of this Uttar Pradesh district on Thursday started the renovation and excavation of the ancient ‘Mrityu Kup’ (well of death) at Kot Purvi, located in Sambhal Kotwali police station area.

The initiative is part of a larger effort to identify and restore wells believed to have religious and spiritual significance.

According to local residents, the well was abandoned a few years ago and filled with debris, which will be cleaned up.

The well is not only a landmark but also a sacred place where devotees believe they can attain salvation by bathing, locals claim.

“Thursday marks the beginning of excavations at Mrityu Kup, a very ancient and revered site. The excavation is being done with the cooperation of Nagar Palika. The well is extremely popular and its renovation will further strengthen our faith. The district administration has been very supportive in ensuring the development of this important cultural and religious landmark,” said local councilor Gagan Varshney.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Sambhal, Vandana Mishra, said that accompanied by a team from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), they visited Bhadrika Ashram Tirtha and Chaturmukh Kup in Hauz Bhadde Sarai.

“After further study, the team will determine its age and give recommendations for its conservation,” the SDM said.

She also highlighted the team’s visit to Alam Sarai’s Brahma Kup, commonly known as Chaturmukh Kup, a stone-built well. The ASI team collected samples for analysis and research.

“Besides, the excavation of Mrityu Kup is currently in progress. We are evaluating the best methods to ensure its preservation. So far, we have identified around 15 out of 19 wells which are of great historical importance,” Mishra said.

Local officials claim that the excavation and renovation of ‘Mrityu Kup’ should boost Sambhal’s religious tourism prospects.

The structure is located close to Shahi Jama Masjid, a court-ordered survey led to violence last month, leaving four people dead.

Violence erupted after protesters clashed with security personnel during the survey of the Mughal-era mosque.

Protesters set fire to vehicles and threw stones at the police, who used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Around 20 security personnel sustained injuries in the clash and the deputy collector fractured his leg, officials said.

Internet services were suspended in the district following the violence.

Footage shared on social media showed protesters pelting stones at security personnel atop buildings and in front of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Later, police personnel were allegedly seen turning corners and hitting people as they tried to disperse a large crowd from a narrow alley.

The images also showed a lane strewn with a large number of slippers, bricks and stones. In another clip, police in riot gear were allegedly seen firing gunshots at a gang, as flames leapt and smoke billowed into the air in the background.

Several people were detained in connection with the violence.

Tension was running high in Sambhal as the mosque came under control on the orders of a local court following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple used to be on the site.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)