Two Farmers Found Dead Who Fell Inside The Tunnel Joining Nira And Bhima Rivers In Pune (image-pixabay)

In an unfortunate incident, two farmers who fell into a nearly 300 feet deep tunnel of the Nira Bhima stabilization project in the Indapur tehsil of Pune was found dead on Wednesday evening. The farmers have been identified as Ratilal Balbhim Narute (50) and Anil Bapurao Narute (32), residents of Siddheshwar Wasti in Kazad.

The tragic accident took place when the farmers where attempting to draw water for agriculture use. As per the Indian express report, the farmers when reaching out the tunnel opening to lower a water pump, fell into the tunnel. Soon after it was found that the farmers had gone missing, the Walchandnagar police rushed to the spot and rescue operations were undertaken.

The farmers living in the vicinity lower water pumps to receive water as the Nira Bhima stabilization project is underway. The diseased farmers used locally made tractor-mounted crane to reach the water to install the pump. But the rope attached snapped and the duo fell into the tunnel. Indapur tehsildar Shrikant Patil said that the accident took place around 5:30 pm.

The police inspector from Walchandnagar police station said that the bodies of the two farmers were fished out around midnight and sent for post-mortem.

The Krishna-Bhima stabilization project involves the interlinking of river basins, several lift-irrigation projects and water supply to the drought-prone districts of the Marathwada region, including to Dharashiv and Beed districts. The stabilisation scheme is implemented by the Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Developmental Corporation. The Nira-Bhima link 5 tunnel is of length 24.08 km at Indapur in Pune district of Maharashtra.