Hidden well discovered under Indore restaurant

In Indore, officials have found a restaurant and beer bar built over a 20-foot-deep old well on MG Road. The city is still dealing with the aftermath of a recent well collapse. This new discovery has raised fresh safety concerns.

When the municipal corporation team conducted preliminary excavation to investigate complaints, they found water below the restaurant. The owner of the estuary has now been ordered to vacate and remove the encroachment within two days.

The well was found beneath the BG Restaurant and Bar, located opposite Gandhi Hall. Despite numerous complaints, the restaurant operator repeatedly denied the existence of any well on the premises. The matter eventually reached Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh, who directed the municipal team to take action.

On Friday, the municipal team arrived to investigate. Initially, there was no visible indication of what might lie beneath the restaurant floor. The team brought in a drilling machine and removed floor tiles to excavate the area.

After digging down nearly 20 feet, they discovered water, confirming the presence of a well. Confronted with this evidence, the restaurant operator and staff were unable to provide any explanation. Since the restaurant is currently operational, authorities have given the owner two days to remove all equipment and clear the well area.

This discovery brings back painful memories of the Beleshwar Temple tragedy that occurred two years ago. On March 30, 2023, during Ram Navami celebrations, a disaster struck at the Beleshwar Mahadev Temple in Patel Nagar. The temple had been built over a stepwell (baoli), and its roof suddenly collapsed, causing people to fall in. Thirty-six people lost their lives in that tragic incident.

The new discovery has raised serious concerns about safety standards and illegal constructions over water bodies in Indore.

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