Jhajjar: Four men died on Sunday night after inhaling suspected toxic gas inside an abandoned well while trying to rescue a calf in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. A police officer who later entered the well was hospitalised but is in stable condition. The district administration has ordered an inquiry, while announcing compensation and govt jobs for the families of the victims. The incident occurred in Munimpur village. As a calf fell into the well, a man climbed down to save it. When he failed to return, three others entered one by one to rescue him. All four were overcome by toxic gases or lack of oxygen. Police identified the victims as Dalbir (40), Narendra (38) and Monu (36), all three from the same family, and Ramu (40), a migrant worker from Kamboj Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Sunil, a relative, said Narendra shouted, “Don’t come down. I can’t breathe,” before communication stopped. Villagers alerted the police, fire services and emergency medical teams, but alleged delay in response. Taking matters into their own hands, they pumped out water, used a JCB excavator to break the well wall for ventilation and wore fire brigade masks to recover the men at night. Villagers claimed the victims were still alive when pulled out, but the arriving ambulance lacked oxygen support, forcing them to transport one victim in a police vehicle. All four were declared dead at the civil hospital. Sub-inspector Rajesh Kumar, who entered the well during the operation, was taken to a private hospital for respiratory distress but is stable. The incident sparked protests, with residents demanding administrative accountability before allowing post-mortem. A village council meeting lasting nearly six hours was attended by former Haryana minister Om Prakash Dhankhar, Congress MLA Kuldeep Vats, former MLA Naresh Sharma, Jhajjar deputy commissioner Varsha Khangwal, senior police officials and hundreds of villagers. A consensus was reached and the families agreed to the post-mortem, after which the last rites of all four victims were performed. Khangwal said each bereaved family will receive financial assistance of Rs 41 lakh and the administration would also recommend one govt job for a member of each victim’s family, subject to eligibility and educational qualifications. Responding to allegations of negligence, the DC said an independent inquiry committee has been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. “If the investigation establishes negligence or administrative lapses, stringent legal action will be initiated against the officials or employees found responsible,” she said. Police commissioner Dr Rajshree Singh, who visited the site, said police teams reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident. MSID:: 132516750 413 |
