Dehumidifier in Padmanabha Temple vault disconnected

Thiruvananthapuram: The dehumidifier system, set up in the A vault of the famous Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple here, has been disconnected due to over-heating.

According to temple officials, the equipment had been disconnected at the A vault, where priceless gold jewellery and precious stones are kept, since the last three days.

Technical experts from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre examined the system and the snag is expected to be rectified within a week, temple executive officer V Ratheeshan said.

However, he said the snag would not cause any harm to the treasures stored in the vault in the short run.

"The dehumidifier system has been disconnected after over-heating was found...Not humidity but the excess heating may cause issues to the jewellery...steps are already on to rectify the problem at the earliest, he told PTI.

He said the the state-run VSSC and Keltron had been entrusted by the Supreme Court to address such matters.

The sprawling temple, dedicated to Lord Padmanabha, has hogged media attention after its underground cellars revealed gold ornaments, vessels, jewels and precious stones worth hundreds of crores of rupees.

An architectural splendour in granite, the temple was rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by the Travancore Royal House which had ruled southern Kerala and some adjoining parts of Tamil Nadu before integration of the princely state with the Indian Union in 1947.

Even after India?s independence, the temple continued to be governed by a trust controlled by the erstwhile royal family for whom Lord Padmanabha (Vishnu) is their family deity.