Guwahati: At least 13 people including seven women and six girls were killed after accidentally falling into a well during wedding celebrations at a village in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
The incident took place in the Naurangiya Tola village of the district.
The deceased has been identified as Pooja (19), Shashi Kala (15), Shakuntala (35), Mamta Devi (35), Meera (25), Pooja (20), Pari (1), Jyoti (15), Radhika (16), Sundari (15), Aarti (10), Pappi (20), and Manu (18).
According to reports, while performing a marriage ritual, various ladies and girls sat on an iron net of the well, which snapped owing to the enormous load, and those seated on top of it fell into the well.
They were rushed to the hospital, where 13 people were declared dead.
However, two persons were seriously injured in the event.
District Magistrate of Kushinagar S Rajalingam a pre-wedding ritual of “haldi” was being performed when the incident took place.
Rajalingam also said that ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh will be given to the kin of each person killed in the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his sympathies to the families of the 13 women who died in the tragedy. He also wished for the injured people’s quick recovery.
“The accident in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this. With this, I wish the injured a speedy recovery. The local administration is providing all possible help,” he tweeted in Hindi.
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 has also expressed his sympathies to the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his sadness over the event and instructed officials to increase rescue and relief efforts as well as offer required medical care to the injured.