Dimapur, 6th October: Two persons lost their lives after reportedly losing consciousness while trying to clean a well at Oriental Colony, Dimapur, on October 6. The deceased included a man in his 40s and his relative, a man in his 20s.
The well is estimated to be around 30–40 feet deep, with only knee-level water at the bottom.
According to eyewitness the uncle who is in his 40s(their family) had been drawing water from a neighbour’s well for nearly a week as water was unavailable in their own well. At around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the younger man first entered the well to clean it. However, at a depth of around 10 feet, he reportedly began experiencing breathing difficulties and lost consciousness. Attempts by people outside to pull him out using a rope and bucket were unsuccessful, and he eventually fell into the well.
The uncle then entered the well in an attempt to rescue him but also reportedly began experiencing severe breathing difficulties at around the same depth. After about half an hour, there was no further response from him. A third person also attempted to enter the well but had to return after experiencing difficulty breathing at around 10 feet.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police were subsequently called to the scene. According to eyewitnesses, the rescue operation took considerable time, with the team reportedly facing difficulties due to the lack of oxygen and the absence of suitable equipment such as oxygen tanks. The bodies were eventually retrieved using ropes and hooks, with the SDRF team unable to safely enter the well.
The deceased man in his 40s was a resident of Oriental Colony, and his funeral was being held in Dimapur, where he is scheduled to be laid to rest. The younger deceased, who was from Indisen Colony, was also given a funeral at his residence before his remains were taken to his native village for the final rites.
The incident highlights the dangers of entering enclosed spaces such as wells, where oxygen deficiency and the accumulation of toxic gases can cause sudden loss of consciousness even when the water level is low.
