Two labourers died after the side of a farm well collapsed while they were removing silt at Deulgaon Rasal in Baramati taluka, Pune district, on October 18, according to a report by Lokmat – Pune. The victims were identified as Machhindra Ramchandra Rasal, 55, and Amol Dhanaji Rasal, 30.
The accident occurred while both men were inside the well carrying out desilting work. A section of soil from the edge suddenly gave way and fell into the well, trapping the workers beneath the debris. Both men died in the incident, the report said.
Following the collapse, the bodies were recovered and sent to Baramati for post-mortem examinations. The incident has led to mourning in Deulgaon Rasal, where the deaths have affected two families.
Desilting work was being undertaken amid water shortages reported across several villages in Baramati taluka. The report said the region has been facing inadequate water availability for drinking and agricultural needs. Removing accumulated silt from wells is carried out to increase their storage capacity and improve the availability of water.
The deaths have also brought attention to safety risks involved in working inside wells. Soil along the edges can become unstable during excavation and desilting, creating a risk of collapse. The condition of the well walls, the stability of the surrounding soil and the safety arrangements required before workers enter are important considerations in such operations.
The report did not provide details on whether a formal safety assessment had been conducted before the work began, who had engaged the labourers, or whether any administrative or police inquiry had been announced. It also did not state whether the well had been assessed for structural stability before the workers descended.
The incident illustrates the risks faced by workers undertaking water-related maintenance in agricultural areas, particularly when urgent efforts are made to improve local water storage. While the work is intended to support farming and address water scarcity, the collapse demonstrates the danger of entering confined, unsupported earth structures without adequate safeguards.
The immediate official steps reported were the recovery of the bodies and their transfer to Baramati for post-mortem examinations. Further details regarding the investigation, compensation or action concerning worksite safety were not available in the supplied report.
