Explosion triggers flaming manhole downtown

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Crews will work into Wednesday night after downtown was jolted Wednesday morning by an explosion in a manhole near Illinois and West Washington streets.

The explosion occurred near the Conrad Hotel just before 6 a.m. Hotel employees called to report it. Firefighters who first arrived to the scene reported flames and smoke coming from the manhole.

No injuries were reported as a result of the explosion. Indianapolis Power and Light officials say a secondary underground line is causing the problem. Crews are replacing 900 feet of damaged cable on Court Street and repairing cable in a Meridian Street manhole. Road restrictions are likely through Wednesday night.

Several other manhole covers on Meridian Street had smoke coming from them Wednesday morning, Indianapolis Fire Department officials say. Local businesses, including Rock Bottom Brewery and the state Department of Health, reported smoke in their basements.

IPL shut off power in some parts of downtown for about an hour to do repair work.

It’s not the first time Indianapolis has seen manhole explosions. The last were on Jan. 30 in the 400 block of Massachusetts Avenue, at roughly 6:30 a.m. Five manhole covers blew off on that day.

Video below from WIBC via YouTube: