Kochi: Police info to prevent accidents in wells

Kochi: In the wake of the recent incident in which three persons died while trying to save a baby squirrel from a well in Palakkad and other such fatal accidents in wells, the police have cautioned the people not to enter wells without checking oxygen levels.

The Kerala police explained in a Facebook post on its official page the do's and don'ts before entering into wells. The information has received many likes from the users.

"The state saw a sharp rise in the number of such accidents this year. The lack of safety measures before climbing down the well for cleaning and also the ignorance in society about the chances of such accidents are the reasons behind this," the post said.

Most of the houses use electric motors to pump water from the wells instead of the typical bucket on a rope with a single fixed pulley. This stops oxygen from entering the well and helps fill it with toxic gases that form from deep inside the soil. Experts say that carbon monoxide is present in the wells that used floating motors which if inhaled can cause even death if proper treatment is not given immediately.  

The use of bucket and rope creates a motion of air which helps increase the presence of oxygen inside the well.The police also pointed out the safety and preventive measures to avoid any such accidents. "A burning candle or a piece of paper can be used to identify the presence of oxygen. If it reaches deep down with fire still burning, the presence of oxygen can be confirmed. Leaves or branches can also be used to increase the movement of oxygen in the well."The police also advised people to inform the nearest fire station before climbing down the well for cleaning purposes or for any rescue operations.