A heartbreaking event unfolded in Khunti, Jharkhand, on Monday. A student from the Rajyakrit Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya, a third-grade pupil, had finished his midday meal at school. Feeling thirsty afterward, and with the school’s water pump out of order, the young boy ventured with friends to a dilapidated well outside the school premises. Tragically, he slipped and fell into the well, resulting in his death. The victim was identified as Suraj Manjhi, aged 8.
The incident took place at the Rajyakrit Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya in Hassa village, under the jurisdiction of the Murhu police station in the Khunti district. After consuming the mid-day meal, the student went near the well due to thirst. He lost his footing and fell into the well. School staff, upon learning of the incident, immediately rushed to the location, retrieved the child, and transported him to Murhu Community Health Centre (CHC). However, the child was declared dead upon arrival by the doctors. The incident caused widespread shock and distress at the scene.
Reports indicate the school’s water pump had been malfunctioning for a few days, disrupting the water supply. Consequently, the school cook was responsible for fetching water from the well for the preparation of the midday meals and for drinking. Despite this, older students sometimes used the well to obtain drinking water after their lunches.
On Monday, following the midday meal, Suraj Manjhi, a third-grade student, accompanied other children to the well for drinking water. During this time, he slipped and tragically fell into the well, leading to his death. In response to the seriousness of the event, the District Education Superintendent has ordered an inquiry and instructed that stern measures be taken against those responsible.
This is not the first such tragedy. In June 2025, a similar incident occurred in Rani Tola, Murhu police station area, Khunti district. Two minors lost their lives after falling into a well while playing near a construction site. Although the district administration deployed a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team for rescue, the children could not be saved.