At least three people have died in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh after about 30 villagers fell into a well while trying to rescue a boy who had fallen there earlier, the police said.
Nineteen people have been rescued and rushed to a hospital after the incident on Thursday, reports NDTV.
The boy fell into the well around 9 pm on Thursday.
The parapet wall around the well, officials said, collapsed due to the weight of people engaged in the rescue operation. The well is around 50 feet deep with a water level of about 20 feet.
The incident took place at Ganj Basoda, about 50 kilometres from the Vidisha district headquarters.
The state’s Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan on Friday morning told reporters that rescue operation was underway.
"I am constantly in touch with the administration at the site of the incident and am continuously monitoring the rescue operations. As the representative of the state government, Vidisha's in-charge minister Vishwas Sarang was present at the spot throughout the night. Under his supervision the rescue teams are engaged in rescuing the trapped people," he said.
"The National Disaster Management Force and State Disaster Management Force have been pressed into action. Inspector General, Zone, and other senior officials have also reached the spot. I am in touch with the concerned officials," he added.
Narrating the accident, a police official said: “While some people climbed down to rescue the boy, others were standing on the parapet wall around it to help them.”
The wall suddenly crashed, throwing those standing on it into the water, he said.
Around 11 pm, a tractor was engaged in the rescue operation, along with four policemen, skidded into the well when the area around it caved in, according to the Press Trust of India.
The chief minister has also ordered a high-level inquiry and instructed the officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for those injured.
Chouhan also announced a compensation of 5 lakh rupees each to the family of the victims. Those injured will be given 50,000 rupees and provided free treatment facility, he said.
