Hyderabad, Aug 13 - An Egyptian expert has arrived to restore a mummy from the age of the pharaohs and preserved at the State Archaeological Museum here.

Tarek el Awady, director of Scientific Research in Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), arrived Wednesday night on a six-day visit to restore the mummy, dating back to 2500 BC, but which is showing signs of decay now.

SCA is a part of the Egyptian ministry of culture and responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt. El Awady is also the general supervisor of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

According to P. Chenna Reddy, director of archaeology and museums, the Egyptian expert has come to restore the mummy following a request from the state government. He will study ways of restoring the mummy, believed to be of Nasihu, daughter of the sixth Pharaoh of Egypt. She is believed to have been between 16 to 18 years when she died during pregnancy.

The 1.40 metre long mummy is one of the six in Indian museums and the only in south India.

The embalmed body, lying in an airtight enclosure, is fragmenting at the face, shoulders and around the feet.