A tragic incident unfolded in Dharnavada village of Guna district on Tuesday morning when five out of six people who entered a well to rescue a trapped calf died after likely being overcome by toxic gas, believed to be carbon monoxide. The lone survivor, Pawan Kushwah, managed to climb out of the 70-foot-deep well before the accident occurred.
The incident took place around 10 AM when laborers working in a nearby mango orchard tried to rescue a calf that had fallen into the well. As the rescuers descended one by one, they were likely exposed to the toxic gas, which led to the fatal outcome. The victims were identified as Siddhart Singh, Gurudayal Ojha, Shivcharan, Sonu Kushwah, and Mannu Kushwah.
A rescue team consisting of Collector Kishore Kumar Kanyal, SP Ankit Soni, GAIL’s CISF unit, SDERF, and local police rushed to the scene. Rescuers used oxygen cylinders, ropes, and a cot to pull the victims out, but the operation was hindered by the 12-foot-deep water in the well.
The incident sparked anger among the villagers, who surrounded the district collector’s car, alleging that the police and ambulance services arrived late. Two of the victims had to be transported to the hospital in a private vehicle. Locals claimed that the authorities only arrived two hours after the incident occurred.
Authorities are currently conducting lab tests to confirm the presence of toxic gas in the well, and further investigations are underway to determine the cause of the gas leak.
This tragic event highlights the dangers associated with unprotected wells and underscores the need for safety measures in such rescue operations.