Eight people died after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a well in Kondawat village of Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh. The incident took place on Thursday evening during preparations for Gangaur immersion. A man named Arjun Patel entered the well to clean it and fell unconscious after being exposed to toxic gas. Seven others went down one after another to rescue him. All of them suffocated and drowned.
The well had turned into a swamp due to a nearby drain that carried dirty water into it. Villagers said the gas likely formed because of the waste and lack of ventilation. When the men didn’t return, the villagers tried to rescue them on their own. They later informed the police and administration. A 15-member team from the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) reached the spot along with local police and district officials. The rescue operation lasted about three hours. Teams used ropes and nets to recover the bodies from the well. The last body to be pulled out was Arjun’s.
A large crowd gathered at the site. The rescue operation continued after sunset under artificial lights. Two ambulances remained on standby. Officials such as Khandwa Collector Rishabh Gupta, Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai, and local MLA Chhaya More also arrived to supervise the operation.
All eight bodies were sent to Chhaigaon Makhan hospital for postmortem. Cremation is expected to take place on Friday. The district administration announced ₹4 lakh compensation for the families of each deceased person. Collector Gupta confirmed that a case will be registered to investigate the cause of the gas formation and whether any safety protocols were violated.
Villagers said the tragedy could have been avoided if basic safety steps had been followed. They questioned why no one checked for the presence of gas before entering the well. Some also pointed out the need for training and safety gear during such tasks. Officials later called a machine to remove the silt and clear the well.
List of the deceased
| Name | Age | Father’s name |
|---|---|---|
| Rakesh | 21 | Hari Patel |
| Vasudev | 40 | Asaram Patel |
| Arjun | 35 | Govind Patel |
| Gajanand | 35 | Gopal Patel |
| Mohan | 48 | Mansaram Patel |
| Ajay | 25 | Mohan Patel |
| Sharan | 40 | Sukhram Patel |
| Anil | 28 | Atmaram Patel |
The tragedy shocked the entire region. Villagers mourned the loss and demanded preventive action to avoid similar incidents. Authorities have promised an investigation and support for the families. The SDERF, police, and local volunteers worked together to complete the rescue.
This incident has raised questions about safety in rural water systems and the risks people face while performing community work. The administration will now look into whether regular checks and awareness programs can prevent such avoidable deaths.
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