Four persons including an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of police died of poisonous gas in a well in Rajanvagaon village of Kawardha district on Friday. The bodies were pulled out and sent for post-mortem examination.
According to sources Khemu Patel, a resident of Rajanandgaon village entered into a well to repair the defunct pump. When he did not come up for long, his uncle Santram also entered into the well. He too did not return and soon people gathered there fearing some mishap. They waited for two hours and made desperate calls for them.
Their neighbour Shriram Yadav reached there and entered the well to help them out. However, he too did not return.Villagers immediately informed Rajanandgaon police about the incident. ASI Kamal Merkam reached the spot and entered the well to take a stock of the situation. People curiously waited for him but he too did not come up.
Superintendent of Police RS Nayak rushed to the spot with administrative officers. A team from Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) was called which pulled the victims out. They were however pronounced dead by the doctors.The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination. The atmosphere of the village turned gloomy after the incident.