More than 100 dinosaur eggs found in MP

Dhar, MP, Feb 6 (UNI) In probably the first discovery of its kind in India, more than 100 fossilised eggs of herbivorous dinosaurs belonging to the early Cretaceous era -- about seventy million years ago -- have been found in western Madhya Pradesh.

The discovery was made by a few amateur palaeontologists at what used to be a nesting site in this district's Bagh within a five-seven km radius.

''We believe that Dhar will emerge as a major centre for dinosaur-linked research,'' said the district panchayat's Chief Executive Officer Navneet Kothari who has been encouraging the exploration by three youths -- Mangal Panchayat Council President Vishal Verma, teachers Govind Verma and Rajesh Chouhan. The latter three are science post-graduates and have been researching for more than a decade.

Dr Arun Sonkiya, who was the Director, Palaentology Department, Geological Survey of India, said that the find was crucial.

''The first egg was found in the first week of December. After that we became obsessed. The nesting site is on the bank of the Hathini river. The eggs were found in clusters of six or seven. We cried with joy. A few eggs have been placed in the Fossil Park, Mandu,'' said Mr Vishal Verma.

UNI