Two enter Noida sump well to fetch cricket ball, die

NOIDA: Two youths chasing a cricket ball that had fallen into a sump well in Sector 6 died allegedly after inhaling poisonous gas coming out of it on Sunday morning. An e-rickshaw driver and a friend of the two youths, who, too, climbed down the well to save them, are battling for life in Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital.
Police said the youths were playing cricket in a park adjacent to the compound of the sump well, managed by the Noida Authority.
When a ball hit by the batsman cleared the park’s boundary wall and fell into the well, Sandeep (22), a labourer in Sector 11 area, entered the compound and climbed down the ladder into the pit. He fell unconscious soon after.
Vishal (27), a supervisor at a private company in Sector 8, also climbed down the well to rescue Sandeep. But he also fell unconscious. When the two youths did not come out after a few minutes, Haider, an e-rickshaw driver waiting for passengers, entered the well. Rakesh, a member of the cricket team, went behind him.
Munish Chauhan, the SHO of Sector 20 police station, said they got a call around 6.30am.
“A police team rushed to the spot along with fire department personnel. It took us 30 minutes to bring out the four youths. They were rushed to the District Hospital, where Sandeep and Vishal were declared dead on arrival. The two others were referred to Safdarjung hospital,” he added.
Sources said Sandeep, who was fielding near the boundary wall, chased the ball as it entered the compound of the sump well. He scaled the boundary wall and climbed down the ladder into the well, a portion of which was uncovered.
“Vishal went behind him. When Sandeep shouted for help, Vishal descended into the well to see what had happened. But, Both of them fell unconscious,” said Durgesh, a witness to the incident.
Jeevach Shanti, Sandeep’s brother-in-law, said the Noida Authority should keep its sump wells fully covered, pointing out that poisonous gases often come out of the waste lying inside.
RP Singh, an engineer in the Noida Authority, ruled out any fault on their part. He said the youths had scaled a 9ft wall to enter the compound and the pump operator had warned them against going near the pit.
“But they ignored his warning and descended into the well. It was Balram Singh, the pump operator, who pulled them out with help from the police and the fire department personnel,” he added.
Neha Sharma, additional CEO of the Authority, inspected the place later in the day and directed officials to increase the height of the wall and the iron fence around the well.
Additional DCP Ranvijay Singh said both the bodies had been sent for autopsy and the reports were awaited. Police suspect the youths may have drowned in the waste water after inhaling the poisonous gas and losing consciousness. So far, none of the families has come forward to lodge any complaint.