Nine metal idols, ranging from one feet to three feet in height, were unearthed from a tank at Bamani hamlet near Mannargudi.According to sources, the presence of idols was detected accidentally by two persons – Chinnadurai, 48, and Jaiganesh, 29, of Chandrasekarapuram – who tried to capture a udumbu (Indian monitor lizard) two days ago. As they searched the bush into which the lizard had sneaked in, they heard some metal sound.They found an idol buried in the tank bed and alerted the local people who in turn informed the Revenue officials. Subsequently, nine metal idols were unearthed from the tank bed and brought to the Mannargudi Taluk Office.The period and composition of metals in which the idols were made were to established by the archaeologists, sources added. Published - July 04, 2026 05:56 pm IST