Darbhanga: Two villages in Darbhanga have laid claim to a Vishnu idol, believed to be 800 years old, found nearly a fortnight ago while museum officials are concerned about its safety.

Residents of Chandi village, around 145km from Patna, said villagers found the idol in the last week of April while silt dumping work was being done by tractors. #The residents of Ojhaul claimed the idol was found in their village during digging of silt.

In a meeting between the villagers and the local administration, it was decided to keep the idol at the Chandi Brahmsthan for the time.

Shiv Kumar Mishra, the assistant curator of Maharajadhiraj Lakshmeshwar Singh Museum, Darbhanga, said: "As soon as it came to the knowledge of the museum, authorities visited the Chandi Brahmsthan to see the idol. Based on the architecture and the way the idol is carved, it was assessed to be from the 12th century. The additional superintendent of police, Darbhanga, has been asked to recover the idol urgently and make immediate arrangements to bring the idol to the museum for safety, conservation and further research."

Mishra said the idol - made of basalt, and 72cm long and 36cm wide - is of high archaeological importance and invaluable.