• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Eight people lost their lives after allegedly inhaling toxic gas inside a well in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday, officials said. The incident occurred around 4 pm in Kondavat village, Chaigaon Makhan area, when a group of villagers entered the well to clean it for the Gangour Mata festival immersions. 

Five people initially went inside but became trapped. In a rescue attempt, three more entered the well, but all eight succumbed, said Khandwa Collector Rishav Gupta and Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai.

A rescue operation involving the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), police and locals lasted nearly four hours. The bodies were later retrieved and sent for post-mortem examination, Gupta stated.

ALSO READ: Delhi To Conduct Artificial Rain Trial In May To Combat Air Pollution, Says Environment Minister Sirsa

Authorities believe the well, which remained unused for most of the year, contained toxic gases due to stagnation. The district administration has announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the kin of each victim. The deceased were identified as Mohan (55), Anil Patel (30), Sharan Sukhram (30), Arjun (35), Gajanand (25), Baliram (36), Rakesh (22), and Ajay (25).

ALSO READ: Centre Assures Protection For Aurangzeb's Tomb; Union Culture Minister Lists Measures Taken By ASI 

This incident echoes a similar case from July last year in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district, where five individuals died after inhaling toxic gas inside a well. The victims included Ramchandra Jaiswal, Ramesh Patel, Rajendra Patel, Jitendra Patel, and Tikeshwar Chandra.

Jaiswal had entered the well to retrieve a fallen wooden strip but lost consciousness. Four others, attempting to rescue him, also succumbed. Bilaspur Range Inspector General Sanjeev Shukla had suggested poisonous gas inhalation as the probable cause.