MIDNAPORE: Workers stumbled upon an underground tunnel with a closed chamber during foundation excavation work at a house in West Midnapore's Pingla on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the Rajballav area in the afternoon, drawing significant attention.
District administration officials visited Anima Ghosh's house after learning about the tunnel.
Excavation work for concrete construction revealed the tunnel, leading to a 15-foot-wide enclosed chamber with a wall below it.
The work was suspended temporarily as word spread about the structure's historical significance. Locals suggested that the tunnel could be part of some ancient architecture.
Pingla BDO Lakpa Wangchu Sherpa said: "On hearing about a tunnel found during house construction, I visited the area. Photos will be collected for an expert opinion. The tunnel was approximately 15 feet long."
House owner Ghosh said: "We started building a new house after demolishing the old one. Bricks began to appear during excavation. Some old stairs and a tunnel were found. Police advised us to halt work at that spot, but construction is going on elsewhere on the property. Many people gathered here after hearing the news."