
Three people died and one was hospitalised after inhaling toxic gas while entering a well to retrieve a faulty submersible pump in Kidihara village, Chandauli district, on Saturday. The incident occurred around…
Three people died and one was hospitalised after inhaling toxic gas while entering a well to retrieve a faulty submersible pump in Kidihara village, Chandauli district, on Saturday. The incident occurred around 2 pm when four men descended into the well and lost consciousness.

Police and fire services personnel from Shahabganj launched a rescue operation with local residents. The victims were taken to a primary health centre, where doctors declared three dead. The deceased were identified as Waris Ali (16), Akhru Jama (28), and Tauqeer Alam (26). The fourth man, Shamsher (22), was referred to Banaras Hindu University in critical condition.
Police said the exact nature of the toxic gas will be determined through investigation.
Deaths from toxic gas in confined spaces are common in rural India, where wells, septic tanks, and silos are entered without safety gear. Methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide are typical culprits. The victims likely lost consciousness within seconds, making rescue nearly impossible for untrained helpers. Under the Factories Act and local safety codes, employers and panchayats are responsible for ensuring safe entry procedures, but enforcement is weak. Watch for the post-mortem report and whether the district administration orders a safety audit of similar wells in the area.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.