In a heart-wrenching incident in Maharashtra’s Nanded district, seven women farm labourers lost their lives when a tractor-trolley plunged into a well on Friday morning.
The mishap occurred in Alegaon village as the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a narrow mud road near a well.
A group of ten agricultural workers from Hingoli district was en route to a mung bean field when tragedy struck. Nearby farmers managed to rescue two women and one man from the well. However, seven women were found trapped under the overturned tractor and later recovered from the site.
The driver reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled the scene, leaving authorities to investigate the cause of the accident. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended his condolences and announced ₹5 lakh compensation for each victim’s family. Officials, including the Superintendent of Police and the District Collector, visited the site to oversee rescue operations, which involved using a crane to retrieve the tractor from the water.
The deceased women, aged between 18 and 45, were identified as seasonal agricultural workers from Gunj village. This incident underscores the hazardous conditions faced by farm labourers, prompting discussions about workplace safety in rural India.