Days after a temple locked since 1978 was reopened in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, efforts are now underway to reopen a Shiv temple, reportedly 250 years old, in the Madanpura area of Varanasi that has been closed for nearly 40 years.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday defended the recent survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, asserting that the exercise, conducted on court orders, was disrupted due to provocative speeches during Friday prayers.

The idols were found in the well near the Shiv-Hanuman Temple, which was opened on Saturday, December 14 after being closed for the last 46 years

Three idols were recovered from a well near the ancient Shiva-Hanuman Temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, following the temple's reopening during an anti-encroachment drive. The temple, which had reportedly remained closed since 1978,

The temple, located in Khaggu Sarai is just over a kilometre away from the Jama Masjid which is situated in Kot Garvi area.

Three broken idols, including one of Lord Ganesh and possibly Lord Kartikeya, were discovered during well excavation near a recently reopened Shiv-Han