Audit Flags Ninety Nine Gram Silver Discrepancy At Historic Deotsidh Temple In Hamirpur

Hamirpur :  A recent administrative audit at the famous Baba Balak Nath Temple in Deotsidh, located in the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh, has unearthed a 99-gram silver discrepancy in the shrine's inventory. The religious site, managed by a government-appointed trust under the district administration, draws millions of devotees annually who offer gold, silver, and cash at the altar.

The discrepancy came to light during a routine reconciliation process conducted by the state audit department, which cross-checked the physical stock of precious metals against the official ledger entries. The audit team observed that while the records accounted for the receipt of the silver ornaments offered by devotees, the physical weight of the stored metal fell short by 99 grams.

Following the audit objection, the Hamirpur district administration immediately initiated an internal inquiry to probe the lapse. The Deputy Commissioner, who acts as the Commissioner of the temple trust, directed the temple management to provide a detailed clarification regarding the missing metal. Preliminary assessments suggest the shortage could stem from clerical errors during weight entry, melting losses during ingot conversion, or procedural oversights during the handling of offerings.

Temple officials have been instructed to re-verify the stock registers dating back over the past few months. Security footage from the treasury area is also being reviewed to rule out any pilferage. The Baba Balak Nath temple is one of the richest shrines in northern India, and the administration has assured that strict action will be taken if any deliberate malpractices or embezzlement are uncovered during the detailed investigation. Meantime, measures are being enhanced to digitalize the weighing and recording of all precious metal offerings to ensure absolute transparency.