Konark:29th Sept 2025: A 30-kg Ashtadhatu (eight-metal alloy) idol of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati was unexpectedly caught in a fishing net.
On Tuesday morning, Prakash Chandra Swain (45), son of Chandramani Swain from Beldal village, located along the Puri-Konark Marine Drive, was fishing under the new bridge of the Nuanai river. While pulling in his net, he discovered that, along with fish, something unusually heavy had been caught — a metal idol weighing approximately 30 kg.
The incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Puri Sadar Police Station.
The idol appears to depict Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and has an inscription mentioning Baba Banambaraeswar (a local deity). The idol is estimated to be around 2 feet in height. Along with the idol, a small sanctum-like structure (possibly a shrine base or pedestal) was also found in the net.
Due to the unexpected weight in the net, Prakash initially thought he had caught a large fish. But when he pulled the net out and saw the idol, he was shocked and surprised.
He then brought the idol home but, suspecting that someone might have stolen and discarded it in the river, he immediately informed the police.