Cyclone Nivar brings 'gold rush' in a village at Andhra Pradesh

Uppada (Andhra Pradesh): The village saw a virtual gold rush on November 27 as the locals discovered glittering gold filing along with small beads on the beach, Uppada. It is a small village in Andhra Pradesh.

The coastal village of Uppada is infamous for its sea erosion and well known for the silk sarees. But after the Nivar cyclone, beads of gold were found on the beach. As many as 50 people collected around Rs 3500 worth of gold, according to locals.

The exact cause is not known but local police say that two temples crumbled under the impact of sea erosion in Andhra Pradesh.

Lovu Raju, local assistant sub-inspector, said "It is customary in these parts to bury small gold beads or particles during foundation laying ceremony for houses and temples."

As old buildings collapsed under the impact of soil erosion, the gold must have carried into the sea along with the debris.

A year back, an old house fell under the impact of a cyclone at Konappa Peta, some kilometres from Uppada. It had a bounty of ancient coins.

The beaches of Kakinada saw a 'gold rush' as well.

"It is also common that people who come to pilgrim centres in the nearby areas leave some small gold pieces in the sea while taking holy baths. During the latest Cyclone Nivar, some of these small gold objects might have washed ashore in tidal waves," sub-inspector Raju added.

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