Labourers digging for construction of a two-story bus station at Lorry Adda have hit upon a well presumbly built during the Mughal era.
Locals believe that around eight-foot wide well is actually a part of a tunnel that links the Lahore Fort to Delhi’s Red Fort. They believe the tunnel was an escape route used in case of emergency.
However, experts are of the view that the site should be inspected properly before carrying out a further construction work.
The residents of the area told The News that some archaeology department officials had visited the site. They said that the labourers were instructed by the contractor to fill the well.
The well was built with blocks and it is round in shape. It is square at some points. It’s builders had used iron and bitumen along with blocks. The tunnel in the well is facing Lahore Fort’s south eastern wall. The well still has water.
An expert and critic, Dr Ejaz Anwar, told The News that the presence of a huge tunnel from Lahore to Delhi was nothing but a myth, as local and foreign researchers could not find any such tunnel so far. He, however, said that the possibility of a tunnel could still not be ruled out as small tunnels along with forts had been built as escape routes in extreme situations.
He said that the structure might have been used as a drain to dispose dirty water into River Ravi which used to flow along the fort.
“It is difficult to speak about the place without a visit and inspection. Archaeology department officials tly don’t pay attention to such sites and let locals demolish such structures,” he said. He said he would personally visit the site Sunday (today) and would be able to comment on the tunnel.
The archaeology department officials could not be contacted for comments.