Chased by strays, teen falls into abandoned well, dies

A 13-year-old boy fell into and drowned in an abandoned well while running away from stray dogs. The shocking incident occurred at Bethlehem Colony, Mangalpet, here around 9.30 am on Monday.

Vincent Raj, a class 7 student, was returning to his home in Bethlehem Colony after attending a tuition class when stray dogs chased him. The frightened boy took to his heels and ended up falling into the 50-foot-deep well that has no safety wall. He sustained grievous head injuries. Hearing his screams, passersby called the emergency services personnel who rushed to the spot and pulled him out of the well. The boy was then taken to the government general hospital where he died later.

A case in this regard was registered by the jurisdictional Market police station. District Fire Safety Officer Muzamil Patel, Police Sub-inspector Khwaja Hussain and other officials visited the spot. Bidar Youth Empowerment Association, a local NGO, had recently written to the Bidar City Municipal Council (CMC), urging it to take the necessary steps to curb the menace of stray dogs. Its president Shaheed Ali even met officials of the urban local body and councillors to draw their attention to the problem. No action was, however, taken, Ali said.