Tragedy in Satna: Two Girls Drown in Borewell Pit, Rescue Operation Lasts Over 9 Hours

The deceased were identified as Somvati (16) and Durga (12), both residents of the village and close friends. The two had accompanied their parents to nearby fields and were playing when they accidentally fell into the deep pit—an abandoned borewell that had filled with rainwater.

One Body Found Early, Second Recovered After Hours of Search

While the body of Somvati, daughter of Chakku Ahirwar, was recovered by villagers around 5 PM, the body of Durga, daughter of Santosh Ahirwar, was trapped nearly 20 feet deep inside the muddy pit. A team from the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) was immediately called in and began a long and challenging rescue operation that lasted over nine hours.

At 12:45 AM, Durga's body was finally recovered after the team used JCB machines to break down embankments and drain water from the pit. The rescue operation was significantly delayed by difficult terrain and the sheer depth of the borewell.

Parents Were Farming Nearby

According to the families, the two girls had accompanied their parents, who were working in nearby fields. Chakku Ahirwar, a farmer originally from Karhi village, said he and his wife had gone to plant paddy in the Hilaudha Har fields near Rerua Kala, where they currently reside with relatives.

The girls were left playing nearby and wandered toward a neighboring field owned by Ramesh Mishra. The site had an old borewell that had collapsed and turned into a deep pit. It had no cover or protective fencing, and due to recent rains, it was filled with water—effectively becoming a hidden death trap.

A Failed Borewell Left Exposed

Officials confirmed that the borewell casing had been removed after the well failed. However, no safety measures were taken to properly seal or secure the area. According to SDM Jitendra Verma, the pit reopened due to heavy rains and was overlooked by the landowner.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that one of the girls may have slipped into the pit while playing, and the second likely jumped in to save her, only to drown as well.

Rough Terrain Hindered Rescue

Access to the site posed a major challenge. The rescue teams and officials had to travel through a 3.5 km-long muddy, waterlogged path, which was impassable by foot due to continuous rains and poor rural infrastructure. Tractors were eventually used to transport personnel and equipment to the site.

Present at the scene were former MLA Kalpana Verma, District CEO Ashok Mishra, TI Ashok Pandey, and other senior officials. The bodies were transported to Nagod Hospital around 1 AM for post-mortem examinations.

Recurring Borewell Deaths Raise Alarms

This tragic case adds to the growing list of borewell-related accidents across rural India, especially during the monsoon season. With hundreds of borewells abandoned and left uncovered, children are often the most vulnerable. Despite repeated warnings and guidelines by authorities, enforcement at the grassroots remains inconsistent.

Locals in Rerua Kala are devastated. Many gathered in grief, demanding accountability and urging stricter action against landowners who leave open pits unattended.

“This wasn’t an accident—it was negligence,” said one villager. “Two families have lost their daughters forever because someone didn’t take responsibility.”

Authorities Begin Probe

Authorities have initiated a preliminary inquiry into the incident. Police are likely to file a case against the landowner for negligence, and a report will be submitted to the district collectorate for further action.

For now, Satna mourns, and two families are left grappling with an unimaginable loss.