Three members of a family died of asphyxiation and conditions of four others were critical while they were cleaning a deep well at Bacha Kolalkot village of Guma block in Gajapati district on Tuesday.
The deceased were identified as Painesh Gamang (55), his son Presinga and a relative Achiniya Gamang.
When Painesh died, his son and relative started screaming for help. Hearing their cries, four other villagers entered into the well to rescue them with a rope. But due to vapours in the well, the villagers also felt suffocated and cried for help of others who were outside the well to rescue them.
The villagers outside managed to drag them out of the well but due to asphyxiation their conditions were critical for which they taken to the Guma hospital.
Then family members were also fished out and rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared them brought dead.
Paralakhemundi MlA K Surya Rao visited the hospital and met the injured and told the doctors to take their proper care.
