A tragic incident occurred on Sunday morning near Modak police station in Kota district, Rajasthan, when a portion of an under-construction eight-lane green overpass tunnel on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway collapsed. The tunnel, which lies beneath the Mukundra Tiger Reserve hills, is designed to allow wildlife to cross above ground.
Shamsher Singh, a 33-year-old worker from Dehradun, was operating a bulldozer when a sidewall of the 4.9km tunnel collapsed, burying him under the rubble. Despite efforts to rescue him, Singh died at the scene. Three other workers managed to escape with injuries. Their condition is stable, and they are receiving medical care.
Following the accident, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) imposed a fine of ₹50 lakh on the joint venture firm responsible for the construction, Dilip Buildcon and Altis-Holding Corporation. The project, which is part of an 8.3km stretch awarded in January 2021, was expected to be completed by March 2025.
An expert investigation team will examine the site to determine the cause of the collapse and recommend preventive measures. NHAI officials confirmed that the workers were wearing proper safety gear and that the wall had been stabilized according to the approved design. The body of the deceased worker has been sent to the mortuary for an autopsy, pending the arrival of his family members.
Read also