Bengaluru underpass cave-in kills two workers, rescue on

Bengaluru: Two workers were killed on Tuesday morning when a section of an underpass under construction caved in near the Hebbal flyover, one of the city's busiest traffic nodes. The incident took place around 9 am, trapping several labourers under debris.

Emergency teams, including fire and rescue personnel, rushed to the spot. They have so far pulled out two bodies. The condition of other workers who were inside the trench at the time of the collapse is not yet clear.

Rescue efforts underway

Visuals from the site showed a deep excavation filled with broken concrete and steel rods. Workers on adjacent sections of the project ran for safety as the earth gave way. A senior civic official said rescue operations are being carried out with earthmovers and manual tools.

"We are trying to reach the remaining workers. The soil is loose and there is a risk of further collapse," the official told reporters at the site. The identities of the deceased have not been released, and the total number of workers trapped remains unconfirmed.

Hebbal underpass project

The underpass is part of a larger infrastructure push to ease congestion at the Hebbal junction, which links the city to the airport and several major highways. The project has been underway for months, with traffic frequently disrupted due to barricades and diversions.

Construction sites in Bengaluru have come under scrutiny in the past for safety lapses. In 2023, a similar trench collapse in the city's outskirts killed three workers. Tuesday's incident is likely to renew questions about enforcement of safety norms on urban infrastructure projects.

Authorities yet to comment on cause

Neither the contractor nor the Bengaluru Development Authority has issued an official statement. Police have registered a case, and an inquiry has been ordered. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the collapse was due to soil instability, lack of shoring, or heavy rain in the area over the past week.

The district administration has announced compensation for the families of the deceased, though the exact amount is yet to be finalised. Local residents and workers' unions have demanded a thorough investigation and stricter oversight of all ongoing construction works in the city.

What happens next

Rescue teams will continue their search through the day until all trapped workers are accounted for. The civic body is expected to release a detailed report in the coming days, and the project's work may be temporarily halted pending a safety audit.