Six children among nine killed in Maharashtra’s Dindori after car plunges into uncovered well

A joyous school annual day in Maharashtra’s Dindori ended in unimaginable tragedy on April 3 night, when nine members of a family — including six children — were killed after their vehicle plunged into an uncovered well while returning home.

Just hours earlier, the children had performed on stage, drawing applause and celebration. By midnight, all six were dead, along with three adults who had accompanied them to the event.

The victims, all from the Durgade family, were travelling back from a function near Nashik when their vehicle fell into a 40-feet-deep open well located at the end of a concrete road. The site, locals say, had long remained unguarded despite repeated warnings.

Three ambulances later carried the bodies to Indore village in Dindori, where last rites were performed amid grief and disbelief. The tragedy has devastated four interconnected families belonging to two sets of brothers.

Ajay Durgade, a 14-year-old relative who had watched the performances, recalled the final moments with shock. The children had danced to popular songs, including Mauli Mauli, and were celebrating together afterward.

“We were all happy. Rakhi was honored for topping her class. They decided to leave early to avoid traffic. That was the last I saw of them,” he said, struggling to process the loss.

Victims remembered

Among those killed was Rakhi, a Class 4 student who had topped her class and was felicitated that evening. Shraddha and Shravani, both enthusiastic performers, had also danced at the event. Shrishti, a Class 8 student, took part in the programme, while young Samruddhi, studying in Class 1, was the youngest victim. Shreyas, a Class 5 student and cricket enthusiast, also lost his life.

Sunil Durgade, a farmer who had volunteered to drive the children, and his wife Reshma were among the deceased, wiping out their entire immediate family. Asha, wife of Anil Durgade, was also killed.

In Indore village, the Durgades—largely a farming family—had taken pride in educating their children in English-medium schools and celebrating their academic achievements.

A disaster foretold

The well that claimed nine lives had stood there for decades, but changing land use and alleged administrative inaction turned it into a deadly trap.

Located at the end of a recently constructed concrete road, the well had neither a proper cover nor adequate protective walls. Residents say the boundary wall had eroded over time, leaving the opening dangerously exposed.

Local accounts suggest the land transitioned from agricultural to non-agricultural use in the early 2000s, with residential structures and commercial establishments emerging around it. The construction of a nearby banquet hall and the laying of a new road increased traffic in the area—bringing unsuspecting visitors dangerously close to the hazard.

Authorities acknowledged a dispute between the landowner and the local civic body over whether the well should be filled. The matter remained unresolved, leaving the site unsecured.

Residents allege the danger was well known. There had been previous incidents—reportedly involving a biker and even a cow falling into the same well—but no formal complaints were filed.

Officials said a proposal to flatten the well had been initiated earlier this year, but no action had been completed before Friday’s tragedy.

Calls for accountability

As grief grips the village, anger is mounting.

“Once the family recovers from the trauma, we will demand answers—from the police and the administration—on why nothing was done despite prior complaints,” said a relative, Sachin Durgade.

For many in Dindori, the question now is not just how nine lives were lost—but why a known danger was allowed to remain unchecked until it claimed them.