1 dead, another injured in tunnel collapse on Indore-Ichhapur highway in Madhya Pradesh

INDORE: A worker was killed and another injured after a portion of an under-construction tunnel on Indore-Ichhapur highway near Simrol collapsed on Wednesday morning.DSP Umakant Choudhary said, "The incident took place at the 4.1-kilometre-long tunnel being constructed on the Mhow-Sanawad railway section.

A portion of the tunnel caved in, killing one worker and injuring another,” he said.The incident took place at Tunnel Number 3 around 4:00 am, where one worker, a native of Jharkhand, died on the spot. The victims were living in a labour camp near the construction site, set up by the company that had hired them, DSP added.

Simrol police have registered the death and initiated an investigation.Sumesh Banjhal, NHAI Indore project director, said, "The outer face of the tunnel gave way due to rainfall loosening the surrounding soil.

The collapse triggered adjoining soil to give in as well.”Attempts were on to remove the debris and check for further casualties.NHAI had recently cleared both the ends of the tunnel near Choral and the strengthening was being carried out in full swing. The authority was planning to open the tunnel for traffic in June 2026.