Bhubaneswar: One person died and two others were critically injured following a suspected case of asphyxiation during a well-cleaning operation at Manpurpatana village under Aul police station limits in Kendrapara district on Tuesday morning.
According to reports, a group of workers was engaged in cleaning a well belonging to Sukanta Parida when, after removing two to three buckets of water, the workers inside reportedly stopped responding.
In an attempt to rescue them, another worker identified as Chittaranjan entered the well but also became unresponsive shortly thereafter.
His son then reportedly descended into the well to rescue him but also fell unconscious inside, sources said.
Locals, on hearing cries for help, rushed to the spot and attempted to rescue the trapped workers using ropes before alerting the fire services. Fire personnel soon arrived at the site and carried out the rescue operation.
The first rescued worker was rushed to Aul Community Health Centre, where doctors declared him brought dead. The other two, a father and son, were shifted to Kendrapara District Headquarters Hospital in critical condition.
Upon being informed, police reached the spot and started an investigation.
