Three girls drown in Raisen well; incomplete water scheme blamed
Synopsis
Three young sisters and their friend drowned in an open well in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen district while on their daily water-fetching walk — a tragedy that exposes a double failure: an unguarded well with no parapet wall, and a government tap water scheme that locals say remains unfinished, still forcing children to walk a kilometre for water.
Key Takeaways
Radha (12) , Tanu (13) , and Amrita (12) drowned in a well in Sagaur village, Raisen district on 23 May .
The well was located nearly one kilometre outside the village; all three were declared brought dead at Gairatganj Civil Hospital .
Preliminary investigation found the well had no protective parapet wall and no safe water-drawing mechanism.
The government's tap water supply scheme in the area reportedly remains incomplete , forcing residents to travel long distances for water.
Garhi police outpost registered a case of accidental death; investigation is ongoing.
Three young girls drowned in a deep open well in Sagaur village under Gairatganj tehsil of Madhya Pradesh's Raisen district on Saturday, 23 May, after one slipped in while fetching water and the other two jumped in attempting to save her. All three were declared brought dead at Gairatganj Civil Hospital. Preliminary investigation revealed the well had no protective parapet wall and no safe water-drawing mechanism.
Who the Victims Were
The deceased were identified as Radha, 12, daughter of Halkeram; her elder sister Tanu, 13, also daughter of Halkeram; and their close friend Amrita, 12, daughter of Ramgopal, according to police officials. The three girls, along with a fourth companion named Amina, had walked nearly one kilometre outside the village to reach the well as part of their daily water-fetching routine.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
Seeking relief from intense heat, the girls paused to bathe on the platform around the well while filling their vessels. One of them slipped and fell into the deep water. The second girl jumped in to rescue her, and the third followed. According to police, none of the three could survive due to the well's considerable depth and high water level.
Amina, who was standing nearby, witnessed the incident and ran back to the village to raise the alarm. Villagers rushed to the spot and, after considerable effort using ropes and bamboo poles, managed to pull the three girls out. They were immediately transported to Gairatganj Civil Hospital, where doctors declared all three brought dead.
Infrastructure Failure at the Centre of the Tragedy
Personnel from the Garhi police outpost reached the scene and registered a case of accidental death. Preliminary investigation confirmed the well lacked any protective parapet wall or safe mechanism for drawing water — a basic safety standard that could have prevented the accident.
Villagers told officials that the government's tap water supply scheme in the area remained incomplete, compelling residents — particularly women and children — to travel long distances for water daily. This comes amid longstanding concerns about the pace of rural water infrastructure delivery in tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh.
Grief Engulfs Sagaur Village
The news of the deaths triggered panic and grief across Sagaur village. The simultaneous funeral processions of the three children cast a deep shadow of mourning over the community. The tragedy has renewed calls from local residents for the expedited completion of the tap water scheme and the immediate securing of open wells in the region.
Point of View
And the remedy costs far less than the grief it causes. More damning is the backdrop: a government tap water scheme that remains incomplete, leaving children to make daily kilometre-long treks for water in summer heat. Every such scheme that stalls on paper is a risk multiplied across hundreds of villages. The question is not just why this well had no safety railing, but how many more like it exist within reach of children who have no other water source.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Raisen district on 23 May?
Three girls — Radha (12), Tanu (13), and Amrita (12) — drowned in a deep open well in Sagaur village under Gairatganj tehsil, Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh. They had gone to fetch water and one slipped in; the other two drowned attempting to save her.
Why were the girls fetching water from a well so far from their village?
Villagers say the government's tap water supply scheme in the area remains incomplete, forcing residents — especially women and children — to travel nearly one kilometre to the nearest well for daily water needs.
What action has the police taken?
Personnel from the Garhi police outpost registered a case of accidental death. Investigators are examining the circumstances, including the absence of safety infrastructure around the well.
Who witnessed the drowning?
A fourth girl, Amina, was present at the well and witnessed the incident. She ran back to the village to alert the families, prompting villagers to rush to the scene with ropes and bamboo poles to retrieve the girls.
