Worker killed in freak accident while digging well

The deceased, S Arivazhagan of Sankarapuram in Kallakurichi, his mother and a few others were digging a well to drain rain water at house under construction at Second North Road in Kapaleeswarar Nagar, Neelankarai. The house belongs to one Ramanathan.

The police said the pit was 12 feet deep and two rings were placed inside it. While placing the third ring, the base ring moved from its position and Arivazhagan climbed down the well to adjust it. To adjust the weight, they had to take the third right out of the well and kept it near the pit. But the loose soil around the well fell back into the pit and the heavy ring also slipped back in, burying Arivazhagan.

Fire and Rescue Services was alerted and rescue personnel from Velachery and Tiruvanmiyur rushed to the spot. After removing the ring and the soil, Arivazhagan was found dead. “His head was smashed in the impact of the concrete ring falling on him,” Velachery Station Officer Ayub said. His body was sent for autopsy.

The Neelankarai police have registered a case and are investigating.