Dimapur, October 10 (MExN): The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Dimapur, has issued a public safety advisory urging residents not to enter ringwells or other deep wells for cleaning, repair or maintenance without adequate safety arrangements and assistance from trained personnel, following two reported fatal incidents within four days.
According to the advisory dated October 9, two persons reportedly died while cleaning a deep ringwell in the district on October 6.
In a separate incident on October 9, a 35-year-old man died while retrieving a phone from a ringwell at Dorapathar, 3rd Mile, Dimapur. The incident reportedly occurred inside the well, with gas inhalation suspected as the cause. In view of the incidents, the DDMA has cautioned that wells may contain dangerously low levels of oxygen or toxic gases capable of causing unconsciousness or death without warning.
The authority has advised the public against attempting untrained rescues, warning that entering a well to rescue an unconscious person could result in further casualties. In case of a person collapsing or becoming unconscious inside a well, residents have been urged to alert emergency response authorities immediately.
The advisory further stresses the need for proper gas testing and ventilation before any authorised entry into a well. It cautions against assuming that the atmosphere inside a well is safe merely because there is no unusual smell.
Residents have also been asked to keep children and unauthorised persons away from open wells and well-cleaning sites, engage trained and properly equipped personnel for inspection and maintenance, and ensure unobstructed access for emergency responders.
For emergencies, the DDMA has provided the following contact numbers: SDRF Dimapur – 7005806182 and DDMA Dimapur – 8131924008.
The authority has appealed to the public to strictly follow the safety precautions, stating that cleaning or maintenance work is worth risking human life.
