Kakatiya-Era Temple Ruins Unearthed At Mulugu University Site
Archaeology team to inspect site, cobras trigger panic— Reports
WARANGAL: Ancient temple ruins, believed to date back to the Kakatiya period, were unearthed during excavation for a compound wall at the Sammakka-Sarakka Central Tribal University site in Mulugu district, prompting authorities to halt work and seek an archaeological assessment.
The incident occurred on Thursday when earth-moving machinery was digging trenches on the 337-acre site allocated for the university. According to sources, the excavation near the Lokam Cheruvu bund exposed large stone structures suspected to be part of an old temple complex.
During the digging, three cobras emerged from beneath the stones, triggering panic among workers. One snake was killed after being struck by a falling rock, while the other two escaped into nearby vegetation.
The machinery used for excavation stopped functioning shortly after the incident, leading workers to abandon the site. Labourers have since refused to resume work at the specific location, citing safety concerns.
“I have never seen a huge cobra in my entire life. The moment we disturbed the ancient stones, they came out as if they were guarding something hidden underneath. Then, the machine just froze and shut down for no mechanical reason. We are too terrified to dig any further in that spot. It feels like a warning,” said the JCB operator, requesting anonymity.
Local residents gathered at the site following the incident and claimed the stones were remnants of a historic temple. Rituals were performed for the dead snake, which was later buried as per local customs.
Some residents linked the find to long-lost shrines, including temples dedicated to Hanuman and Yellamma Thalli, while others said such structures were typically built alongside water bodies during the Kakatiya period.
“Our ancestors always said that the Kakatiya rulers never built a water tank without building a temple next to it to bless the waters,” said 72-year-old resident Sambaiah. “These stones are beautifully carved and clearly belong to a holy shrine. Harming this site or ignoring the snake gods will bring bad luck to the area. The government must respect our sentiment, stop the university wall construction here, and rebuild the temple instead,” he said.
District authorities have suspended construction at the location and informed the Department of Archaeology. A team has been deputed to inspect the site and assess the historical significance of the remains.
Director of state archaeology department K. Arjun Rao said the department received information from the university vice chancellor and immediately sent a team for inspection. He said a detailed report would be submitted after the survey to determine the origin of the structure and further action.
He added that officials had been directed to shift the unearthed remains to the archaeological museum in Warangal for preservation pending further examination.
