Three Shivling-shaped stones have been recovered during the demolition work to build escalators near the base kitchen close to RPF police station at the Cantt side of the Central railway station here on Tuesday.

The incident came to light when the laborers engaged in the work alerted the contractor about the find. He later informed the senior railway authorities. On getting information, locals of the area thronged the site. Many among them started chanting 'Har Har Mahadev'. Many people also started making videos, which later went viral on social media.

Police also reached the spot and cordoned off the area. It is being said that at the time when people came across the Shivling-shaped objects, a pair of snakes were also present there, but soon they disappeared. At present, the work has been stopped. The Railway authorities have described the objects as grinding stones.

A team of RPF besides engineering and station administration also reached the spot. The engineering department of the railways is engaged in the work of making automatic stairs to reach the foot over-bridge from the Cantt side. Right next to it is the building of the old dilapidated base kitchen of the Railway.

These days the demolition of the base kitchen is underway. "When its roof was demolished on Tuesday, three stones of the shape of 'Shivling' were also recovered," said Railway sources. Along with this, items used in the kitchen, including old plates, cups and other utensils were also found there.

During preliminary findings, it came to the fore that the recovered stones were spice grinding stones, said RPF Inspector BP Singh. He added that along with three grinding stones in the shape of Shivling, other kitchen items have also been found.

Deputy chief traffic manager of Kanpur Central Railway Station, Ashutosh Singh, said. "A team of the railway engineering department has been sent to the spot for investigation. A letter will also be written to the Archaeological department and the investigation will be done by experts," Singh added.

References:

timesofindia.indiatimes.com