Four dead in Bihar well tragedy: Toxic gas inhalation during motor repair
Four people, including a father-son duo, died on Friday after inhaling toxic gas inside a well in Bihar’s Gaya district, officials said. The incident took place in Garh Karmauni village under the Dobhi police station area while the victims were repairing a motor installed in the well.
The deceased have been identified as Chamari Manjhi, his son Dilchand Manjhi, Vikas Chaudhary, and Vijay Chaudhary. According to Superintendent of Police Sushil Kumar, all four men reportedly died of asphyxiation after coming into contact with the toxic gas.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the motor inside the well may have been running for a long time, leading to the accumulation of harmful gases. Such incidents are not uncommon in rural India, where workers often descend into confined spaces like wells and septic tanks without proper safety gear or ventilation checks.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and directed officials to provide an ex gratia payment of ₹4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. He also asked the district administration to ensure that all necessary assistance is extended to the grieving families.
Local police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances that led to the tragedy. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further details are awaited.
Safety experts point out that wells and other confined spaces often contain dangerous gases like methane, carbon monoxide, or hydrogen sulfide, which can be fatal even in small amounts. They advise that no one should enter such spaces without testing the air quality first, and that rescue operations should only be conducted by trained personnel with proper breathing apparatus.
The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for awareness and safety measures among workers in rural areas, where such accidents are frequently reported.
