A tragic incident unfolded in the Khakhreru township of Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur district, where a 10-year-old child lost his life after tumbling into a deep, centuries-old well on Sunday afternoon. The victim, Rehan, a resident of the Saraini Nagar locality, was attempting to catch a pigeon when he accidentally slipped into the nearly 200-foot-deep abandoned well situated a short distance from the settlement. The sudden accident triggered immediate panic across the area. Upon receiving emergency alerts, Dial-112 personnel, local police station officers, and fire department teams rushed to the site to launch an extensive rescue mission to retrieve the boy.
High Water Volume Prompts Extensive Pumping Efforts
Rescue teams and divers encountered severe difficulties in the early phases of the mission due to the massive volume of water accumulated inside the deep shaft. Descending immediately into the darkness was deemed impossible without lowering the water mark. Consequently, authorities deployed large drainage pipes and a JCB machine as dusk fell to pump out the water. With active assistance from local residents, water extraction continued non-stop for nearly 6 hours before the water level dropped sufficiently. Throughout the afternoon and evening, a massive crowd gathered around the scene, requiring police personnel to make strenuous efforts to keep the perimeter secure. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Circle Officer (CO) remained stationed at the venue to supervise the operation.
Body Discovered Trapped in Bamboo Wood
Once the water receded to a manageable level late at night, local divers made the critical descent into the depths. Divers Nishad, Sohail, and Aamir lowered themselves into the shaft and conducted thorough underwater searches near midnight. Divers eventually located Rehan's body trapped against a piece of bamboo wood submerged deep below. Rescuers subsequently tied ropes around the remains and hauled the body up to the surface. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that the child died of drowning. The recovery of the body plunged the entire neighborhood into mourning, with police officers consoling the devastated family members.
Mother Waited on Well's Parapet Hoping for a Miracle
Throughout the harrowing 13-hour ordeal, an agonizing scene played out at the site as Rehan's mother, Madina, and his younger sister, Naz Parveen, sat continuously on the parapet of the well, praying desperately for his survival. The fragile hope shattered around midnight when the boy's body was pulled out, causing the mother and sister to break down inconsolably as neighborhood women stepped forward to offer comfort. Rehan was the youngest among his brothers and was especially cherished by his uncle. His father, Sabir Ali, sustains the household through daily wage labor. Rehan was studying in class four at a local school in the town, and his sudden demise has left the working-class family completely broken.
Safety Concerns Mount Over 200-Year-Old Abandoned Structure
According to local residents, the well involved in the fatal mishap is approximately 200 years old. Nagar Panchayat President Gyanendra Gautam stated that the well had been out of active use for an extended period, with locals confirming that its water had not been drawn for roughly 35 years. Because the enormous cavity stands only a brief distance away from residential dwellings without adequate protective barriers, the tragedy has brought civic safety oversight under sharp scrutiny. Residents pointed out that securing such unused, historic water structures with metal grates or covers could have prevented this devastating loss of life.
