MYSORE: Two concrete chambers resembling manholes have been discovered on Bangalore-Nilgiri Road near Gun House in the city.
A month ago, a part of the road had caved in and Mysore City Corporation (MCC) workers found a broken cement slabs which capped a deep chamber.
On Monday, when the authorities were replacing the broken slab, they were surprised to see a similar chamber just next to it.
Archeology Department officials were called to the spot. The chambers resemble modern day manholes but are square in shape. The 22-foot deep chambers have small concrete bricks fixed on their interiors. Iron roads are fixed on one side.
One chamber has a base of 3x5 sq ft and the other 3.5x3.5 sq ft. Sathyamurthy, Assistant Commissioner, MCC, said he initially felt they could be underground drainage chambers or storm water drains but said he is not sure about what exactly they could be. He said there is one foot water in the chambers but it doesn’t smell bad. The interior is neatly plastered.
He said archeologists from the University of Mysore and officials of the Archeology Department have been asked to study them.
The place where the chambers are found is barricaded. However, Archeology Department engineer Doreraju who visited the spot said it might be drainage and ruled out that it has any archeological value. He said the chamber could have been built only after 1950s as cement is also used in its construction. He said since the chamber is found close to Palace premises, it is possible that they were meant to drain rainwater from palace surroundings.