Three suffocate to death in unused well

TUTICORIN: Three people, including a father and son suffocated to death when they entered an abandoned well to desilt it in Tuticorin on Friday.
The three were identified as K Mariappan (54), his son Kalaiarasu (24) and T Peter (54) of Mother Theresa Fishermen's Colony in Lourde Ammalpuram in Tuticorin. One more person who attempted to rescue them fell unconscious and was hospitalised.
Police said that a family from Kerala shifted to a house at Mother Theresa Colony two days back. After cleaning their house for occupancy they decided to desilt an unused well in the backyard and sought the help of their neighbours. Mariappan living in the adjacent house and one Thaddeus (45) offered to help.
"Mariappan was the first to climb down the well. But in a few seconds he started suffocating and collapsed into the well unconscious," police said. A shocked Thaddeus raised an alarm. Mariappan's son Kalaiarasu rushed to the rescue of his father and so did Peter who was also a neighbour. However, they too suffocated and swooned into the well.
Only then did the villagers realise the danger and informed the fire and rescue services personnel. Fire service personnel rushed to the spot and rescued all the three from the well. But by then Mariappan and Kalaiarasu had died while Peter who had a thin breath died on the way to the hospital.
One more villager who was watching the rescue operation was also hit by the poisonous gas and swooned. But he was rescued and admitted in the hospital. Senior police officials including SP M Durai visited the spot and conducted inquiries.
A pall of gloom descended on the colony as all three deceased were from the same locality.
Police have instructed the villagers not to go near the well or attempt to clean it.