Secrets of chambers A, B to be opened

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The two chambers inside the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple which are said to have remained shut for centuries would be opened on Thursday morning. The seven-member committee preparing an inventory of the treasure trove inside the six chambers in the temple based on a Supreme Court directive is learnt to have requested for precautionary measures, including oxygen masks and medical aid, for Thursday’s venture.However, it has been learnt that the committee opened the ‘A’ chamber on Wednesday morning for a few minutes. The chamber is said to have an underground tunnel which can be entered only by removing three big boulders. The tunnel, which is assumed to have less of oxygen flow, would require the men who enter it to wear oxygen masks. The presence of poisonous air is also anticipated, because of which the committee members are learned to have asked for medical aid too.The PWD and Fire and Rescue Services have also been called for help. Though the officials entered the chamber, realising the risk-factors, they put off the move to Thursday, when the next attempt would be made after taking all precautionary measures.  It is also known that the committee members had opened the doors of the ‘B’ chamber, but they did not enter. Both the chambers would be opened and checked in detail on Thursday.The preparation of the inventory, which began on Monday morning, has so far listed gold, silver, jewellery, idols and utensils worth crores of rupees inside the chambers. The ‘C’ chamber opened on Monday listed precious items worth Rs450 crore, while the ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ chambers together are said to have listed items worth more than Rs 400 crore.According to temple representatives, the ‘A’ and ‘B’ chambers are known to contain precious coins and other antique pieces. However, the superstitions and beliefs surrounding the temple chambers, especially ‘A’ and ‘B’, have led to their remaining shut all these years.It is known that the temple priests have already expressed deep anguish over the way the treasures are being handled for the inventory. Sources said that while opening the ‘F’ chamber, a war of words had erupted between the priests and the officials. Finally, it was decided that the priests would pick the items to be weighed and not the officials.It remains to be seen how the officials would go ahead with the preparation of  the inventory of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ chambers in the context of the beliefs surrounding them.