Two enormous 22-tonne British-era cannons found in Maharashtra Raj Bhavan

A set of twin identical 22-tonne British-era cannons was found on the premises of Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on Saturday. They were lifted by a crane. Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao witnessed the cannon lifting operation and ordered that the historical relics be restored and preserved, a Raj Bhavan official said.

While the cannons were placed on the front lawns of Raj Bhavan for the time being, Rao has asked officials to install them in front of Jal Vihar banquet hall in the Raj Bhavan complex later.

The governor also asked the officials to seek the assistance of the Indian Navy to obtain technical details of the cannons and find out archival records, if any. The two massive and identical cannons, separated from each other by 25 meters, were found undetected and covered under mud at the foothills of the Arabian Sea-facing Raj Bhavan, apparently for many decades. Each of them weighs 22 tonnes, measures 4.7 meters in length and has a diameter of 1.15 meters. 

These may later be placed for public display outside the Jal Vihar Bungalow or the grand banquet hall of Raj Bhavan, in Malabar Hill.

Read: 'Why Didn't Your Parents Name You Ravan or Duryodhan?': UP CM Yogi Adityanath's Answer On Allahabad-Prayagraj Name Change

This is the second major discovery of historical importance at Raj Bhavan in less than three years. In 2016, a 13-room and 15000 sq.ft long British era underground bunker was found below the lawns of Raj Bhavan. The bunker is being restored under the guidance of an expert architect firm.

The Governor has asked for the creation of a museum inside the bunker after which it will be opened for the general. 

(With inputs from PTI)