Missing! 24 Monuments, Sites 'Untraceable' Since Independence, Minister Tells Parliament

Twenty-four monuments and sites in India are "untraceable," Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy informed the Parliament Monday.

With 743 in Uttar Pradesh alone, India has a total of 3,693 heritage sites protected by the Archeological Survey of India. The ASI has surveyed 8,478 villages in the last eight years and antiquarian remains have been found in 2,914 of them, Reddy told the House.

Since Independence, 210 thefts, involving 486 objects, have been reported from centrally-protected monuments/sites located in 19 states/Union Territories, the House was informed.