3 women fetching water from well die as slab collapses

While the deceased were identified as S Sasikala (35), C Mangai (45) and E Kamala (28), the injured were Kagapan (50), Malika (35), Sivagami (35), Amsa (38) and Neelavathi (14), all residents of Suriyapillaiyar Kuppam in Kaikullam village near Kalpakkam in Kancheepuram district. Except Kagapan, all other victims were women.

Police said there was no power in the village as several electric poles were damaged in rains on Sunday night and because of this the pumping motor could not be operated. Hence, the villagers were fetching water manually from the well on Monday. Around 3.30 pm, a group of villagers were standing over a concrete slab over the well and drawing water.  

Since the slab was weak, it collapsed unable to bear the weight of the people and eight of them fell into the well. 

Immediately, a group of locals swung into action and tried to rescue the people from the well. On information, a team of fire and rescue services personnel from Cheyyur rushed to the spot and launched an operation to rescue those stuck in the well. Local residents also aided the personnel in their efforts. While three were pulled out dead, five others were rescued with injuries.

The injured persons, who were rushed to a nearby primary health centre, were later shifted to the Chengalpattu government hospital. The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem to the Chengalpattu government hospital.