13 Women Die After Falling Into Well During Wedding Ritual in UP’s Kushinagar; President Kovind, PM Modi Condole

The women had assembled on and around a covered well for ‘haldi’ ritual in Naubiya Naurangpur area of the district. Suddenly, the cover on the well failed to withstand the weight of the women and caved in, with several women falling inside the well.

Kushinagar: At least 13 women lost their lives after falling into a well during wedding celebrations in the Nebua Naurangia area of Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, several women and young girls were sitting on a slab of a well during haldi ceremony when suddenly, due to heavy load, the slab broke and the women plunged inside.

Speaking on this, Gorakhpur Zone ADG, Akhil Kumar told reporters, “13 women have died. The incident occurred last night at around 8.30 pm in the Nebua Naurangia, Kushinagar. The incident happened during a wedding program wherein some people were sitting on a slab of a well & due to heavy load,the slab broke.

The senior official said a compensation of Rs. 4 lakh would be paid to the family of each person killed in the incident.

UP | 13 women have died. The incident occurred last night at around 8.30 pm in the Nebua Naurangia, Kushinagar. The incident happened during a wedding program wherein some people were sitting on a slab of a well & due to heavy load,the slab broke: Akhil Kumar, ADG, Gorakhpur Zone pic.twitter.com/VaQ8Sskjl2

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 17, 2022

Reportedly, around 15 women were rescued by villagers and the police, while 11 others could not be saved in time. Two people have suffered serious injuries in the incident.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed his condolences over the tragedy. The official handle of the Chief Minister’s Office tweeted that he has directed officials concerned to conduct rescue and relief operations immediately and provide proper treatment to the injured.

#UPCM श्री @myogiadityanath जी ने कुशीनगर के नेबुआ नौरंगिया थाना क्षेत्र में कुएं में गिरने की दुर्घटना में लोगों की मृत्यु पर गहरा शोक व्यक्त किया है।

उन्होंने संबंधित अधिकारियों को तत्काल बचाव व राहत कार्य संचालित कराने तथा घायल लोगों का समुचित उपचार कराने के निर्देश दिए हैं।

— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) February 16, 2022

PM Modi too extended his condolences to the family of those who lost their lives in the incident, he said “possible help being given by local administration.”

उत्तर प्रदेश के कुशीनगर में हुआ हादसा हृदयविदारक है। इसमें जिन लोगों को अपनी जान गंवानी पड़ी है, उनके परिजनों के प्रति मैं अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। इसके साथ ही घायलों के जल्द से जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। स्थानीय प्रशासन हर संभव मदद में जुटा है।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2022

President Ram Nath Kovind offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the tragic incident.

उत्तर प्रदेश के कुशीनगर में हुए हादसे में महिलाओं और बच्चों समेत कई लोगों की मृत्यु का दुःखद समाचार सुनकर व्यथित हूँ। इस दर्दनाक हादसे में अपने परिजनों को खोने वाले सभी शोक-संतप्त परिवारों के प्रति मेरी गहन संवेदनाएं। मैं घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ।

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 17, 2022

Further probe into the matter is currently underway.