Pune civic workers dig out 500 cannon balls

It began as a routine trench-digging task for the Pune civic body. Within hours, it threw up a buried chunks of history accompanied by a good dose of excitement.

It began as a routine trench-digging task for the Pune civic body. Within hours, it threw up a buried chunks of history accompanied by a good dose of excitement.

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Workers, who were digging the trench to lay a water pipeline in Khadak area on Thursday afternoon, stumbled upon a slew of cannon balls during excavation.

Over 500 cannon balls, each weighing about 700-800 gm and believed to be dating back to the British or Peshwa era were recovered.

The area was also under controlled by a pioneer of the arms revolution, Lahuji Salve, who revolted against the British rule.Engineer from Archaelogy department, Sanjeev Dalvi, who visited the site said several structures including the Peshwa’s shell production factory had been in the same locality.

Dalvi said a small quantity of balls had been recovered in the area about 15 years ago.The vicinity in which the balls were found housed a jail during the 19th century. The prison was under the control of the Britishers.

The police said the ancient shells are inactive. “The military has been told to check which era they are from,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Ranjit Dhure.

The police said that once digging work resumes on Friday, they will see if there are more such balls beneath.As word spread, locals lined up to catch a glimpse of these treasures of the past.

By evening, a team of the Southern command had arrived to check the era to which the cannon balls belonged.