A tragic accident in a village under the Badol police station area claimed the lives of a mother and her teenage daughter after the wall of a newly constructed well collapsed on them during cleaning on Monday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 4 PM in Dukkli village when 75-year-old Samaniya Bai Janghela, her daughter Anusuiya Janghela (41), and granddaughter Swati Janghela (17) were cleaning the well. Three out of four cemented sections of the well gave way suddenly, burying two of them under debris.

Rescue Operation Extended Till Late Night

Local residents immediately swung into action. Nearly 80 to 100 villagers gathered at the spot and began initial rescue efforts using ropes tied to a nearby mango tree. Samaniya Bai was pulled out first and rushed to the district hospital in Seoni, where she is undergoing treatment.

The rescue operation for the other two continued for several hours. Teams from the district administration, police, and SDRF worked with two JCB machines to remove the heavy debris. Anusuiya Bai’s body was recovered around 1 AM, while Swati’s body was brought out nearly an hour later. Both bodies were handed over to the police and sent for post-mortem.

What Led to the Collapse

According to villagers, the Janghela family had got the well constructed about a month ago, roughly 400 metres from their house. Cement rings and walls had been added recently. On Monday, the three women went to clean the well, locally known as “tarai”.

Purushottam Dehariya, a resident of Dukkli, said the structure suddenly became unstable. “Three parts of the well slipped together. The rings fell over Anusuiya and Swati,” he told reporters. Samaniya Bai later recounted that her granddaughter Swati fell in first, followed by her daughter, and then she herself slipped in. Quick action by villagers saved the elderly woman.

Swati had appeared for her Class 12 examinations this year.

Village in Shock

The collapse triggered panic in the small village. Many families rushed to the spot fearing more casualties. The presence of a large number of villagers helped speed up the initial response, though heavy debris made the full rescue challenging.

Local authorities confirmed that no other person was trapped. The well has now been cordoned off.

Also Read: Similar well-related tragedies have occurred in the region. Recently, five labourers died in Panna district when soil caved in during digging operations.

Safety Concerns in Rural Areas

Such incidents highlight the risks associated with traditional and newly constructed wells in rural Madhya Pradesh, especially during the monsoon when soil becomes loose. Officials said they are investigating the exact cause of the collapse, including the quality of construction and whether proper safety measures were followed.

District administration has announced assistance to the grieving family. Senior officials visited the village and assured support to Samaniya Bai’s treatment.

The tragedy has left the close-knit community shaken. Families in Dukkli and surrounding areas are now reviewing safety around their own water sources.