Chennai: Three were killed and five injured in a freak accident when a slab fell into a well in Kancheepuram district on Monday. A crowd of people who had gathered on a stone slab, constructed over 10 years ago, to draw water from a community well fell into it due to excess weight, police sources said.
There was no electricity since rains started lashing Surya Pillayar Kuppam, near Kalkulam in Kanchipuram district and therefore, water could not be supplied to 500 houses in the village.
Residents had complained but decided to draw water from the well after waiting for over 12 hours in vain, police sources said. In the afternoon, the women in the village gathered around the well with their buckets to draw water. The slab, over 10 years old, had remained unused since the motor was installed and had hence weathered, police sources said. Over 20 people stood on the slab to draw water.
At around 4:30 pm, the slab gave way, taking down eight people. The villagers acted immediately and tried to save them, in vain. The Anaikattu police were informed along with the Seiyur fire department. Five people were rescued alive and were sent to the Seiyur Primary Health Centre before being sent to the Chengalpattu government hospital for treatment. They have been identified as M. Nagappan, 50, Mallika, 35, R. Sivagami, 35 and C. Hamsa, 38.
Three others could not be saved as the falling slab hit them, forcing them into the mud. They have been identified as S. Sasikala, 35, C. Mangai, 45 and E. Kamala, 28. The Anaikattu police have registered a case and investigations are on as rescue operations concluded.
