In a shocking turn of events in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi, a joyous wedding celebration in Tigra village transformed into profound grief. Two elderly men, who had arrived to participate in the festivities, mysteriously disappeared during the night. The next morning, villagers discovered their lifeless bodies in an unguarded well located in a nearby field.
The victims were Bathan Bhagat and Punei Oraon, residents of Jarhia village under Bedo police station. They had come to Tigra village in Ratu police station area for the ‘Cheka’ ceremony at Dasu Oraon’s home. The event was in full swing with traditional dances and songs echoing through the night. As the party wound down late into the hours, most guests departed for their homes.
However, Bathan and Punei never made it back. Concerned family members launched a frantic search at dawn, scouring the village and surrounding areas. The breakthrough came when locals spotted two bodies floating in an irrigation well on the outskirts. Rushing to the scene, they identified the men from the wedding.
Ratu police were alerted immediately. Officers arrived, retrieved the bodies after a thorough inspection, and sent them to RIMS hospital for postmortem. Punei Oraon’s daughter, Chameli, filed a missing persons report at the station, now converted to an unnatural death case.
Preliminary investigations suggest the duo might have lost their way in the darkness after leaving the venue. The well, dug for farming purposes, lacked any protective railing, making it a fatal hazard. Authorities are probing all angles, including possible foul play, while awaiting autopsy results.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy in Lohardaga district last year, where a woman and her three children were found in an abandoned well, sparking widespread outrage over rural safety. Local leaders are now demanding stricter regulations on open wells to prevent future mishaps.