Five workers have died in an accident while constructing a deep well in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district.
They died due to suffocation inside the under-construction well at Lumpyrtuh-Mihmyntdu in West Jaintia Hills district on Monday.
The victims include an officer from the Forest Department and four workers.
The victims have been identified as Forest official Hamklet Suchiang (37), Bunlad Suchiang (34), Niwan Suchiang (48), Phima Dkhar (24) and Danyboi Iano (27).
Two other persons have, however, been rescued by the Fire and Emergency Service and are currently undergoing treatment at hospitals in Jowai.
A special rescue team reached the spot and recovered the bodies of five persons from different levels of the under-construction, 35-meter-deep well, Fire Service SP A Goenka said.
According to the police, the mishap occurred when the Forest official and workers were pumping out water from the 30-foot deep well with a diesel-operated water pump.