A wedding in Jharkhand’s Ranchi district became the scene of unimaginable sorrow after two senior citizens participating in the event were found dead in a well the following morning. What started as a vibrant community gathering in Tigra village ended in collective mourning.
The deceased, Bathan Bhagat and Punei Oraon from Jarhia village (Bedo PS), traveled to join the ‘Cheka’ wedding at Dasu Oraon’s home in Ratu jurisdiction. Traditional customs, lively performances, and feasting extended deep into the night, with attendees reveling in cultural splendor.
Post-midnight, as the crowd thinned, the pair failed to return home. Dawn brought panic—family and neighbors combed fields and paths fruitlessly. Tragedy struck when a report of bodies in an open field well surfaced. Confirmation hit hard: it was them.
Ratu police sprang into action, extracting the remains, documenting the site, and forwarding them to RIMS morgue. An unnatural death case was registered based on Chameli Oraon’s complaint, Punei’s daughter.
Investigators point to nighttime confusion possibly guiding the men off-course into the unfenced irrigation well. Devoid of barriers, it posed invisible danger. Comprehensive checks continue, autopsy insights crucial to rule out other causes.
This heartbreaking episode revives memories of Lohardaga’s 2024 well deaths involving a family of four, fueling demands for immediate safety upgrades across Jharkhand’s villages to avert such preventable losses.