The trial run of the golden chariot, recently carved out by the expert sculptors for the upcoming annual Salakatla Brahmotsavams threw in a challenge for the officials of engineering wing of the TTD.
The trial run, which is taken up to ensure that the chariot would move smoothly during the brahmotsavams gave a tough time to the officials. However the TTD says that the obstacles faced during the trial run gave them a better picture and would help them to make fool proof arrangements during the actual procession.It took more than eight hours for the 30 ton in weight and 32 feet tall golden chariot to cover a kilometre from the SV museum to Mada street.
The priests offered prayers to the chariot at 9.05 am after which it started its journey from SV museum. Soon after entering on to the road, one of the wheels, on right side got caved into the newly laid but a sub-standard road. Even as the officials struggled to bring it out the ground, the left side wheel too got stuck in the mud.
After taking up repair works and with the help of heavy cranes, the wheels were brought out of the soil and the chariot resumed its journey and came out of the museum. In the process more than 100 people trying to pull the chariot slipped and fell on the ground. No major injuries were reported.
The journey slowed down as the road to the Mada street from Museum was very steep and the officials had to regularly check the hydraulic systems to ensure that the chariot makes it way slowly and safely. It was not just the road that gave way but also the cover on the roadside drain that broke resulting in the huge wagon getting trapped. The engineering department deployed a couple of huge cranes to help the chariot get back on to the road and move further.
At around 5:30 pm the chariot finally reached the mada streets to its official location near Srivari Pushkarini.
Even as the officials thought the worse was over the swilling rod or the rod that is used to pull the chariot got snapped.It took a lot of effort by the engineers to move the divine vehicle to its place. It took almost two hours to travel hundred yards. Finally, the chariot entered the Mada streets but at one of the turnings, the left wheel went over a drain and the wheel caved in.