Gumma: Three persons including a man and his son died of asphyxiation while another three were rendered critical while they were engaged in cleaning a well Tuesday.
The incident was reported from Badakalakota village under Gumma block in Gajapati district.
The deceased were identified as Phainat Gamanga (55), his son Preisingh Gamanga (22) and a relative Ataniya Gamang (25). Ejem Gamanga, Arasto Gamanga and Asua Sabar were hospitalised in critical condition.
According to sources, Phainat’s family faced drinking water problem while there was an abandoned well near his house. He decided to clean the well and make good use of its water.
Six persons including Phainat’s son were engaged in the work. At first, they drew water from the well using a motor and emptied it. Later, Phainat along with his son Preisingh and Ataniya went inside the well to clean its surface. However, the three were suffocated and fell unconscious inside the muddy well.
In a bid to save them, the other three workers went inside the well but they too were suffocated. Villagers rescued the six and admitted them to Gumma government hospital where doctors declared Phainat, Preisingh and Ataniya brought dead.
Locals expressed shock over the incident as Preisingh was married just 15 days ago. Villagers suspect that the three persons died after inhaling the gas released from motor while drawing the water. Local MLA K Suriya Rao and Zilla Parishad member Himanshu Kumar Lima other people’s representatives rushed to the hospital and took stock of the situation.
Tehsildar Gadadhar Patra and revenue inspector Seemanchal Das visited the hospital and assured the victim’s of necessary compensation. The bodies were seized and sent for post-mortem to the district headquarters hospital at Paralakhemundi. Police registered a case and launched an investigation. PNN