MP tragedy: 4 dead, several injured as villagers fall into well

Four people died and several others were injured while they tried to rescue a boy who accidentally fell into a well. The villagers at Ganj Basoda area in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district suffered the mishap as the walls of the well caved in because of their weight during their frantic bid to rescue the boy.

Vidisha: Four people died and several others were injured while they tried to rescue a boy who accidentally fell into a well. The villagers at Ganj Basoda area in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district suffered the mishap as the walls of the well caved in because of their weight during their frantic bid to rescue the boy. The boy is yet to be found.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to Twitter to express condolences over the loss of lives. He said he is continuously monitoring the situation. CM Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 Lakhs each for the next of the kin of the deceased and compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the injured. The injured will also be provided free medical treatment.

"Have received information that two people have lost their lives in the Ganjbasoda area. Their bodies have been recovered. I pay homage to those who lost their lives in the accident and pray to God to give peace to the departed souls. Rescue work is still on, I am continuously monitoring the situation," Chouhan tweeted in Hindi.

"Rescue operation is underway. Several people who are injured have been admitted to the hospital," said Vinayak Verma, Superintendent of Police for Vidisha.

The state's Guardian Minister Vishwas Sarang, who visited the spot, said water was being pumped out of the well. Rescue operation is underway.

Sources said about 40 people fell into the well and 25 people have been rescued. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were pressed into service. A control room was set up to attend to the grievances.

The well, into which the boy fell, was constructed under the Nal Jal Yojana. Sources said though the well was covered, its lid came off while the boy, along with his friends, was bathing on it.

Chouhan, who was scheduled to arrive in New Delhi today, cancelled his visit in wake of the accident.