Daijiworld Media Network – Sakri
Sakri, Dec 9: A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in Ganeshpur village of Sakri taluk on Sunday when a tractor carrying onions accidentally rolled into an open 60-foot well, taking along three little girls who were playing on it. Two of the children — Khushi Daju Thakre (3) and Pari Sandeep Gaikwad (3) — drowned, while villagers managed to rescue a third child, Ritika Sandeep Gaikwad.
According to information, onion-loading work was underway in the farm shed of former police patil Prakash Marathe when labourers’ children climbed onto the stationary tractor. Suddenly, the tractor moved on its own and plunged into the deep, unfenced well nearby. The loud crash alerted villagers, who immediately rushed to the spot and launched a rescue effort while informing the police.
A frantic search continued through Sunday evening. Ritika, aged 3, was pulled out alive by locals. Villagers Rohit and Bhaiyya Sark, who bravely dived into the well around 11 pm, managed to retrieve the body of little Khushi. They were assisted by Pankaj Maranar, Sumit Nagre and Gokul Pardeshi. The tractor was later lifted out using a crane.
Search teams continued pumping water from the well through the night to locate the remaining missing child, Pari Gaikwad. After nearly 24 hours, her body was found floating on Monday. She was brought out using ropes as grief-stricken villagers watched in silence.
The tragic deaths of the two toddlers have cast a pall of sorrow over Ganeshpur, with villagers expressing deep anguish over the horrific accident.