Unnao: Govt chases golden dream Photogallery

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The hunt for a 1,000-tonne gold treasure had shades of the Hollywood western, Mackenna's Gold. But the media circus that the occasion spawned was pure Peepli Live. (PTI)

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Seers furiously chanted mantra, television reporters from home and abroad jostled for space, villagers frantically clicked snapshots and posted them on social media — the scene at the village in central Uttar Pradesh was indeed a mix of the surreal and the post-modern. (PTI)

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The day began much before dawn at Daundiya Kheda, where Archaeological Survey of India's excavation work began on Friday. Walking past the different tiers of security, Swami Shobhan Sarkar — whose dream of a gold treasure in a mound near the Shiva temple has prompted this wild treasure hunt — reached the site around 4.00am. (PTI)

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Pravin Kumar Misra, superintending ASI archaeologist, said that a 12-member team, including excavators and laborers, had initiated work for the "dream" mission. "We are using basic tools. It appears we will not need the big drilling machines," he said. (PTI)

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Media at Raja Rao Ram Bux fort where ASI began excavation work on Friday in Unnao to trace hidden treasure of gold. (PTI)

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Local priests performing 'puja' at Raja Rao Rambux fort before ASI started excavation in search of hidden gold treasure in Unnao. (PTI)

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Archaeologists began digging for treasure beneath a 19th century fort in northern India on Friday, after a popular Hindu holy man said a former king appeared to him in a dream and told him of a nearly $50 billion cache. (PTI)

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