Daijiworld Media Network - Balaghat
Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), Jul 10: A routine attempt to repair a faulty water pump turned fatal for two farmers in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district after they were trapped by poisonous gases inside a farm well, police officials said on Friday.
The tragic incident took place on Thursday evening in Pipertola village, which falls under the Kirnapur police station area.
Police said 45-year-old Mahesh Chaudhary climbed down into a nearly 50-foot-deep well situated behind the residence of his friend, Yuvraj Bisen, to fix a defective motor pump. Moments after entering the well, Mahesh reportedly became unconscious due to oxygen depletion and the accumulation of toxic gases.
Seeing his friend collapse, 55-year-old Yuvraj Bisen immediately descended into the well in an attempt to rescue him. Unfortunately, he too was overcome by the hazardous gases, leaving both men trapped inside the well. They died before rescue teams could save them.
After being alerted, Kirnapur police reached the location and, suspecting the presence of poisonous gases, sought assistance from the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) based in Balaghat.
An SDERF team launched a rescue operation, with jawan Karansingh Valke entering the well wearing protective gear, including an oxygen cylinder and face mask. After an operation lasting nearly five hours, the team successfully recovered both bodies using ropes. The bodies were brought to the surface between 10 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.
Kirnapur police station in-charge Rajkumar Chaudhary said the bodies were sent to the district hospital for post-mortem examination after the required legal formalities. They will be handed over to the bereaved families after the autopsies are completed.
Officials noted that this is the third fatal incident involving poisonous gases in wells in Balaghat district within the past two weeks. A 50-year-old man died under similar circumstances in Sitkutola village on June 25, while another fatality was reported in Mararitola village on July 8.
Following the repeated incidents, the district administration has announced that it will intensify public awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of entering confined wells without proper safety equipment.