Lord Vishnu idol unearthed from pond near Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu

VILLUPURAM: A four-foot-tall stone idol of Lord Vishnu was unearthed on Monday evening while desilting a pond near Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district.
People in Karipalayam village, where the idol was unearthed, believe that the idol would be 500 years old. They handed it over to Tindivanam treasury.
Village administrative officer (VAO) Marimuthu said, “Karipalayam is one of the ancient villages in Villupuram district and has four ponds. The ponds’ restoration work had been pending for more than two decades. Based on a petition filed by villagers, the ponds were shortlisted under Kudimamarathu scheme for desilting. Its restoration began on Saturday.”
On Monday evening, an earthmover was used for desilting Ootrukulam pond in the village. The earthmover hit a stone-like object. The operator alerted villagers.
Marakkanam tahsildar V Gnanam said, “The villagers manually cleared the sand at the spot and unearthed the idol. Both hands of the idol were broken.”
Local villagers shifted the idol to a nearby temple and offered prayers.
“It was then handed over to Tindivanam treasury. We also alerted officials of the Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) and state archaeology departments. Officials might inspect the idol on Wednesday,” the tahsildar said.