Found in the Alps: Indian jewels from 1966 air crash

Albertville (France): A French climber scaling a glacier off Mont Blanc got more than satisfaction for his efforts when he stumbled across a treasure trove of emeralds, rubies and sapphires that had been buried for decades. The jewels, estimated to be worth up to 246,000 euros (Rs 2.05 crore), lay hidden in a metal box that was on board an Indian plane that crashed in the desolate landscape some 50 years ago. The climber turned the haul in to local police. “This was an honest young man who very quickly realised that they belonged to someone who died on the glacier,” said local gendarmerie chief Sylvain Merly. “He could have kept them, but preferred to give them to the police,” said Merly, adding the climber stumbled upon the box earlier this month and that some of the sachets containing the precious stones bore the stamp “Made in India”. The French authorities are contacting their Indi an counterparts to trace the owner or heirs. Under French law, the jewellery could be handed over to the mountaineer if these are not identified, Mr Merly said.