Ritika
Mumbai: It has been 75 years since the country got independence, but some such constructions are being done in Mumbai 177 years ago during the British rule. Which no one knew. A tunnel built 177 years ago has been found in a building named DM Petit at JJ Hospital in Mumbai. The interest of the people has increased due to the tunnel found in the hospital premises.
The resident medical officer found a suspicious lid while inspecting the area on Wednesday. As soon as the lid was removed, it felt that there was some hollowness in it. When the security guards were called and the place was inspected, it was found that there is a tunnel there. The length of this tunnel is about 200 meters. The JJ Hospital administration informed the Archaeological Department and the District Magistrate about the discovery of the tunnel. The Archaeological Department is now investigating the tunnel.
Tunnel from delivery ward to children’s ward
JJ Hospital has informed that this tunnel is from the delivery ward to the children’s ward. The Sir JJ Hospital architecture dates back to the British period. Due to getting the tunnel there, now the hospital workers have aroused the curiosity to see the tunnel.
Tunnel has been found here too
This is not the first time such a tunnel has been found in Mumbai. A few years ago, an underground tunnel was found in the area of St George’s Hospital. A similar tunnel was found two years ago at the Raj Bhavan located at GPO, Malabar Hill, a fort built in Mumbai. Now tunnel has been found in JJ Hospital.
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JJ Hospital was built 177 years ago
Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy Hospital was built 177 years ago in 1838. It was assisted by the British officer Sir Robert Grant. The Archaeological Department of India is now saving the architecture built during the British period.
JJ Hospital was Governor’s House
When the British came to Mumbai from Kolkata during the British period, the British governor had no place to live at that time. The present JJ Hospital building was constructed before the Governor’s House was built in Malabar Hill. The British governor lived in JJ Hospital itself. After the construction of Malabar Hill Hospital, this place was given as a hospital. However, after that GT Hospital was constructed.
The construction of tunnel in British buildings was not surprising at that time. In fact, tunnels were made to avoid any kind of attack on the Governor’s House during the British rule. There were no means of transport at that time. The British used sea transport. The finding of the tunnel here proves that it must have been designed for a safe evacuation to the sea in case of any crisis on the governor.
-Vijay Khabale Patil, former public relations officer, BMC
