SHIRDI: a defunct well in the holy town spat out treasures worth 1.5 lakhs in the form coins and sai baba idols, in the Lendi Baug area. This well, as sources say, was used by the revered Sai Baba to fetch water nearly a hundred years ago. Sai Baba, whose temple in Shirdi in western Maharashtra attracts a large number of people from India and also abroad, receives huge amounts of offerings and is one of the wealthiest temples in India.

The coins and other offerings were recovered during cleaning of the well in Lendi Baug area. Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, which manages the temple's affairs, had undertaken the task of removing sediments to make the well fit for drawing water and overcome the shortage.

During the cleaning operation, coins of Re 1, Rs. 2 and 5 denominations, thrown by devotees in the well, were recovered by workers. The value of the coins is around Rs. 1.5 lakh, Sansthan sources said today.

The Sansthan is currently facing severe water shortage as the pond supplying water to the temple has dried up. Also, supply from Nashik's Darna dam is often irregular, leading to shortage of drinking water for the devotees.

Besides coins, small idols of Saibaba and coconuts were also pulled out, the sources added.