8 Dead After Inhaling Toxic Gas in MP Well During Gangaur Festival; CM Mohan Yadav Announces ₹4 Lakh Compensation

Khandwa (MP): Eight individuals lost their lives after being exposed to toxic gas inside a well in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district on Thursday, officials confirmed.

The tragic incident occurred during the Gangaur Mata festival when villagers entered a long-unused well to clean it. The accumulation of poisonous gas inside the well led to the deaths. According to Khandwa Collector Rishav Gupta, around eight people were trapped, prompting a rescue operation by the police, SDRF, and Home Guard units.

“All eight victims have been recovered and their bodies sent for post-mortem examinations,” said Gupta. He also stated that the district administration has granted an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh to each victim’s family.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav acknowledged the tragedy on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, “In Kondawat village of Chhaigaon Makhan area, one individual descended into the well to clean it ahead of the Gangaur immersion ritual. He became trapped in the sludge, and in efforts to rescue him, seven others entered the well and were also trapped. Sadly, all eight succumbed to suffocation caused by the presence of poisonous gas.”

The Chief Minister expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and confirmed financial assistance of ₹4 lakh for each family. “In this painful moment, I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the affected families. May God grant peace to the departed souls and strength to their loved ones,” he wrote.

Authorities conducted a joint rescue mission involving state police and district officials to retrieve the bodies and assess the scene.