What Happened in Mandsaur? Five Feared Dead After Van Plunges into Well

Bhopal, April 27 (NationPress) Tragically, up to five individuals are believed to have perished in a catastrophic incident in Mandsaur district. A van carrying devotees lost control after colliding with a motorcyclist, subsequently plunging into an open well near the Budha-Takarwat crossing beside Kachariya Chowpati village under the jurisdiction of the Narayangarh police station in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday.

This heart-wrenching event has also resulted in the death of one rescuer and left four others injured, with numerous passengers still unaccounted for. As per the police reports, the van collided with the biker, causing the rider's immediate death before the vehicle fell into the well.

In a conversation with IANS, Anil Raghuwanshi, the officer in charge of Narayangarh police station, mentioned that since the van remains submerged in the semi-dry well, the precise number of casualties has yet to be confirmed.

Sadly, a local resident, Manohar Singh, who attempted to rescue the trapped individuals, died due to toxic gas emissions from the LPG-fueled vehicle or some noxious gas present in the well.

Ongoing rescue efforts are crucial to ascertain the total number of casualties.

Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, present at the site of the incident, expressed his sorrow on social media: “Upon learning of the tragic occurrence involving a four-wheeler falling into a well in Kachariya Chowpati village, I promptly visited the location to assess the situation and directed the District Collector and Superintendent of Police to accelerate the rescue operations.”

He extended his condolences to the grieving families and instructed officials to provide all possible support to them.

Among the injured are Maya Keer (26), two children aged three and twelve, and Mukesh (27), who have been rescued and are currently receiving treatment at Mandsaur District Hospital.

Initial reports indicate that the van was traveling from Unhel in Ujjain district and fell into the well between 12:30 and 1:00 PM while heading to the Antri Mata Temple in Neemuch district.

The van, believed to be carrying approximately ten passengers, plummeted around fifteen feet, according to police sources.

The scene erupted into chaos, with onlookers desperately trying to rescue those trapped.

However, the presence of hazardous gases in the well posed significant challenges.

Authorities quickly mobilized, with Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda and District Collector Aditi Garg arriving to supervise the rescue efforts.

Oxygen cylinders were dispatched from the district hospital to aid in the rescue. The local community has been profoundly shaken by this incident.

The ongoing rescue operation remains critical as authorities work diligently to recover those still trapped.