Underground Tunnel Discovered Near Qutb Shahi Tombs in Golconda

An underground tunnel was discovered in the vicinity of the historic Qutb Shahi tombs at Golconda on Thursday evening, prompting local leaders to alert heritage and administrative authorities.

Karwan MLA Kausar Mohiuddin shared details of the reported discovery on social media platform X on Thursday. The emergence of the underground structure has raised curiosity among local residents and heritage enthusiasts in Hyderabad.

Following the discovery, the MLA said he contacted the Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to bring the matter to their immediate attention. He also informed the Hyderabad District Collector, the Hyderabad Police Commissioner, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police for the South-West Zone about the development.

As a precautionary measure, a police picket will be deployed at the site to secure the area. Officials are expected to conduct an inspection of the location to ascertain the origin, purpose, and historical significance of the underground structure.

Historic sites across Hyderabad, including Charminar and Golconda Fort, have a long history of rumors and reports regarding secret underground tunnels. In the past, officials from the state government and the ASI identified several arches and aged structures resembling tunnels, though excavations could not confirm continuous passageways.

In 2025, a civil contractor uncovered two underground arches while conducting excavation work to construct a barrack for the Hyderabad police, which raised questions over whether the arches connected Charminar and Golconda. Additionally, in 2012, reports of a hidden Nizam-era tunnel and underground vault at a school in Saifabad near the old Secretariat sparked widespread attention.

Authorities are yet to provide further details regarding the newly found structure near the tombs as official inspections proceed.