• Published: Apr 06 2026 03:40 PM
  • Last Updated: Apr 06 2026 04:14 PM

9 members of a Nashik family, including 6 children, die as their car falls into a 40-foot open well in Dindori. See the full story and safety updates.



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A night filled with smiles, music, and celebration… ended in a silence no one expected.

In Dindori near Nashik, a family’s return from a school function turned into a devastating tragedy within hours. What happened on that road late Friday night has left an entire community shaken — and raised serious questions about safety that can’t be ignored.

Dindori Nashik Tragedy What Led To This Deadly Well Accident

What started as a happy evening full of music and smiles ended in a heartbreaking tragedy within just a few hours. In Dindori near Nashik, nine members of the same family lost their lives after their car fell into an open 40-foot-deep well late Friday night.

The family had just attended a school function where the children performed dance routines on songs like Mauli Mauli and even took part in army-themed acts. Everyone was in a cheerful mood, and one of the children was even recognized for her studies, making the night feel even more special.

According to a relative, Ajay, everything seemed completely normal when they decided to leave a bit early to avoid traffic. No one imagined what was about to happen next.

While returning home, their car took a route where an uncovered well was located dangerously close to the road. The vehicle reportedly went out of control and plunged straight into the water-filled well. With no fencing or safety barrier in place, there was nothing to stop the fall.

The depth of the well and the water inside left no chance for escape. By midnight, all nine victims, including six children, had died, leaving behind shock, grief, and serious questions about safety and negligence.

Nashik accident news

Who Were The Victims From The Same Family

All nine victims belonged to the Durgade family, deeply connected through close relations. The loss has impacted multiple households at once.

Here’s what we know about them:

  • Six children, all students of Janta English School
  • Children included Rakhi, Shraddha, Shravani, Shrishti, Shreyas, and Samruddhi
  • Ages ranged from Class 1 to Class 8
  • Sunil Durgade, a farmer, was driving the car
  • Reshma, his wife, and Asha, another family member, were also present

These children had just performed at their school’s annual function. One of them, Rakhi, was even honored for academic performance that same evening. Hours later, their lives were gone.

What Police Found About The Open Well Negligence In Dindori

The most disturbing part is that this well was not new. Locals say it had existed for years and had already caused smaller incidents before.

Police officials, including Inspector Bhagwan Mathure, confirmed:

  • The well belonged to a local landowner
  • No fencing or protective structure was installed
  • It was located right next to a public road
  • Authorities were aware of the risk

Locals also revealed that:

  • A biker had fallen earlier
  • Even a cow had slipped into the same well
  • Complaints were made, but no action was taken

Officials admitted that this was “a disaster waiting to happen.”

Why The Open Well In Dindori Was Never Closed Despite Complaints

Another layer to this tragedy is an ongoing land dispute that many people are now questioning.

The area was once farmland, but over the years it slowly turned into a residential zone with more homes and roads built around it. As the surroundings changed, the open well became more dangerous, especially because it was so close to a public road.

Officials had already proposed a plan to fill the well and make the area safer. But things did not move forward because of a dispute between the landowner and the local nagar panchayat. Due to this ongoing issue, the decision kept getting delayed.

Even though a resolution to close the well was passed, it was never actually carried out on the ground. Because of this delay, the well stayed open and unprotected for a long time, which sadly ended up becoming the reason behind this fatal accident.

How Rescue Teams Pulled The Car From Dindori Well

As soon as the incident was reported, multiple teams rushed to the spot.

  • Local police and fire brigade reached first
  • Disaster management teams joined soon after
  • NDRF teams were also called for support
  • Two cranes were used to pull out the vehicle
  • Swimmers assisted in recovery

The rescue operation continued till midnight, but sadly, all nine victims were declared dead.

Bodies were later taken to the government hospital in Dindori before being handed over to the family for last rites.

Nashik accident news

Government Response Compensation And Investigation Ordered

The tragedy quickly caught attention at the state level.

  • Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called it “extremely unfortunate”
  • Ordered a statewide safety audit of open wells
  • Directed officials to identify dangerous locations

Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan visited the site and announced:

  • Rs 5 lakh compensation for each victim’s family
  • Immediate steps to close the well
  • A full investigation into the incident

The Nashik Collector has been asked to submit a detailed report.

Why This Incident Is Raising Big Safety Questions

This accident is not just about one family, it points to a much bigger problem that many people are now noticing.

In many areas, open wells are still left unattended in public spaces, with no proper checks or safety measures in place. Basic protections like fencing or barriers are often missing, even when the risks are clearly known. In this case too, there were earlier warnings and small incidents, but no serious action was taken.

Here are the key safety concerns being raised:

  • Open wells in public areas remain unchecked
  • No fencing, barricading, or warning signs installed
  • Delayed action due to administrative disputes
  • Lack of regular safety inspections by authorities
  • Known risks ignored despite previous minor accidents

Delays caused by administrative issues only made things worse. Even when authorities were aware of the danger, proper monitoring and timely steps were missing. If those earlier concerns had been taken seriously and acted upon, this heartbreaking tragedy could possibly have been prevented.

Dindori Well Tragedy Full Details You Should Know

Detail

Information

Incident Location

Dindori

Total Deaths

9 people

Children Among Victims

6 children

Family Name

Durgade Family

Date of Incident

April 2026 (Friday night)

Time of Accident

Around 10 PM

Cause of Accident

Car fell into an open 40-foot well

Well Condition

Uncovered, no fencing or safety barrier

Previous Incidents

Biker and cow had fallen earlier

School Event

Annual day function (children performed dance)

Rescue Teams

Police, Fire Brigade, NDRF

Rescue Method

Two cranes and swimmers used

Government Action

Safety audit ordered for open wells

Compensation

₹5 lakh per victim’s family

Minister Visit

Girish Mahajan

CM Statement

Devendra Fadnavis called it “extremely unfortunate”

Investigation Status

Inquiry ordered by Nashik Collector

What Action Will Be Taken After Dindori Nashik Accident

Right now, a case has been registered, and authorities have started a detailed investigation to understand who is responsible for this tragic negligence. The focus is mainly on the role of the landowner, the delay from the administration, and the lack of basic safety measures that could have prevented this accident.

Officials are trying to figure out how such a dangerous spot remained open despite earlier concerns and warnings. But for the family, none of these answers will really change what has already happened.

What started as a happy night filled with music, dance, and celebration slowly turned into silence and grief within hours. For many people, this incident is now a painful reminder that even small safety lapses, if ignored, can lead to life-changing and irreversible loss.

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Source(Image / Thumbnail): indianexpress.com

FAQ

In the Dindori well tragedy, a car carrying nine family members fell into an open 40-foot-deep well late at night, leading to the death of all passengers, including six children.

A total of nine people lost their lives in this accident, and six of them were children from the same family.

The car reportedly went out of control and fell into the well because there was no fencing, barricade, or safety protection around it.

All victims belonged to the Durgade family, including young school children and their family members who were returning from a school function.

Yes, locals and police said the well had caused earlier incidents, including a biker and a cow falling into it, but no strong action was taken.

The government called the incident unfortunate, ordered a safety audit of open wells, and announced ₹5 lakh compensation for each victim’s family.

People are raising concerns about open wells in public areas, lack of fencing, delayed action by authorities, and poor safety checks.

An investigation has been started to check negligence, and authorities are planning to identify and secure other dangerous open wells to prevent such incidents again.

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