Kerala Well Rescue Turns Fatal: Three Lives Lost in Heroic Attempt

A late-night rescue operation in Kerala's Kollam district turned into a tragedy, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including a firefighter, during an attempted rescue of a woman who had jumped into a well.

The incident unfolded when Archana, a local resident and mother of three, leapt into the 80-foot-deep well following a domestic altercation with her partner, Shivakrishnan, who was allegedly intoxicated. The Kottarakkara Fire and Rescue Unit quickly responded to the emergency call at Neduvathur around 12:15 a.m., but the operation took a catastrophic turn.

Fire officer Soni S Kumar, 36, descended into the well with ropes and safety gear to rescue Archana. However, during the process, the well's parapet collapsed, causing both Soni and Archana, 33, to fall deeper into the water. Shivakrishnan, 22, also fell into the well after leaning for support on the compromised parapet. Despite intense efforts, all three were declared dead, prompting an investigation by the authorities into the structural failure that led to the accident.

(With inputs from agencies.)