9 Family Members Dead, Including 6 Children, After Vehicle Falls ‘Down a Well’

A joyful night turned into an unimaginable nightmare for one family after a late-evening drive ended in a devastating accident that wiped out nearly an entire household.

Nine members of the Durgade family — including six children — were killed after their vehicle plunged into a deep, uncovered well while driving home from a school event in India on Friday, April 3.

The family had just left a celebration at Janta English School in Dindori, where several of the children had performed and even received recognition for their achievements. Relatives say spirits were high, with laughter and pride filling the evening — moments before everything went horribly wrong.

According to local reports, the tragedy unfolded around 10 p.m. as the family traveled through a dark stretch of road in the Shivaji Nagar area. Authorities believe the driver was unable to see the open well in the darkness before the vehicle suddenly dropped nearly 40 feet into the ground.

The impact trapped everyone inside.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and launched a desperate rescue effort that stretched over two hours. Heavy machinery, including cranes, was brought in, and local swimmers were called to assist in reaching the submerged vehicle.

But it was too late.

By the time the car was pulled from the well shortly after midnight, all nine occupants had died.

“We deployed two hydra cranes and sought the assistance of local swimmers to reach the submerged vehicle,” police inspector Bhagwan Mathure said. “Despite the swift rescue efforts, none of the occupants survived.”

Among the victims were six young children — students ranging from first to eighth grade — along with three adults, including the driver and his wife. The victims were all members of the same extended family.

Heartbroken relatives are now demanding answers, pointing to long-standing concerns about the dangerous well, which had reportedly remained uncovered for years despite complaints.

“One minute we were celebrating together, and the next they were gone,” said 14-year-old cousin Ajay Durgade, recalling the final moments he saw his family alive. “They left early to avoid traffic. That’s the last I saw of them.”

Another family member, Sachin Durgade, said questions must be answered once the family begins to process the grief.

“We will be asking what the authorities did and why this well was left open for so long,” he said.

The well, originally built decades ago when the area was agricultural land, now sits surrounded by residential homes — a silent hazard that locals say should have been addressed long ago.

Now, an entire family is gone — and a community is left reeling, searching for accountability after a tragedy that many fear could have been prevented.