Efforts on to rescue 2 trapped in tipper inside 180ft deep well

Coimbatore: Two men working in a brick kiln unit at Veerapandi village on the outskirts of the city were feared dead and their co-worker was seriously injured after the tipper carrying them fell in to a 180ft deep abandoned well near the unit on Monday night.
Fire and rescue personnel are continuing efforts to save A Selvam, 33, of Sankarapuram in Theni district and A Balamurugan, 20, of Veppampatti in Theni, who are trapped in the mangled vehicle inside the dry well. S Mani, 20, of T Mettupatti in Theni, who was rescued on Tuesday around 3.30am, is undergoing treatment in the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

The tipper, belonging to NMS Brick Chamber at No 24 Veerapandi Village, was used to carry red sand to the unit, police sources said. “Driver S Surya of Thevaram in Theni had given its key to the trio around 9.30pm, asking them to park it. Selvam was on the driving seat and was trying to park it near the abandoned well. Unfortunately, he stepped on the accelerator and the vehicle plunged into the well,” a police officer said.

The Thadagam police and fire and rescue services personnel reached the spot immediately. A team of firemen climbed down the well and rescued Mani, who was struggling for life.

As the tipper’s cabin was badly mangled and stuck in the well, the firemen could not ascertain the condition of the other two men.

An attempt to lift the vehicle-weighing six tonnes-using a crane, failed. Rescue efforts are on, sub-inspector P Senthilkumar told TOI.