Five people died on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) after allegedly inhaled toxic gas, while trying to save a cow that fell into a well in the village of Dharnawada in the district of Madya Pradesh, the officials said.
The incident occurred around 11:00 on a private farm under the Sub-Division Raghogarh, Deep Dodve, Sub-Divizal Police Officer (SDOP), Hindu said.
The farm, which is located by the road, includes a mango orchard where a group of children twitched fruit at the time of the incident. “When the children were inside the farm, the cow entered the premises. When it was haunted, the animal fell into the well. The children then pointed out the elders,” said Mrs. Dodve. The well is approximately 70 feet deep.
Two men initially descended into a well to save the animal, but were unable to climb out after they had breathed problems and lost consciousness. “Another man entered the well to help them, but came out because of respiratory problems that three other men followed and fell unconscious,” she added. Of the six who entered, only one survived.
The joint rescue operation started with the local police, the state response to the emergency response to disasters (sderf) and the national strength of the reaction to disaster (NDRF), but at a time when the bodies of five men and the cow were restored, all were dead, the officer said.
Staff from Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), located in a nearby Gashority of India Limited unit, were also called to help with a rescue that lasted more than two hours.
Samples of water from the well were sent to the National Fertilizers Limited Unit (NFL) in the district to help determine the nature of the suspicious gas. “The water in the well seems quite clean, so it’s hard to say what actually caused death,” said Mrs. Dodve.
Police have initiated investigation and other measures will follow on the basis of mortal reports and findings from the NFL analysis, she added.
Main Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and announced Ex Gratia of 4 lakh for each of the surviving families. “An accident in the village of Dharnawada in Raghogarh then in the Guna district, which resulted in the death of five people, is extremely tragic. My condolences are affected by the griefs.
Published – June 24, 2025 21:45
