NASHIK — A night of celebration turned into a nightmare for a local family on Friday, April 3, 2026, as nine members—including six children—perished when their vehicle careened into a water-filled well in the Dindori taluka of Nashik district.
The tragedy occurred around 10:00 PM in the Shivaji Nagar area. The victims, identified as members of the Dargude family from Indore village, were returning home after attending a coaching class function at a local banquet hall.
According to preliminary police reports, the family was traveling in a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) when the driver, Sunil Dattu Dargude (32), reportedly lost control in the darkness. Local authorities suggest that the driver may have failed to spot the open well situated near the road in the poorly lit Shivaji Nagar stretch. The vehicle veered off the path and plunged directly into the deep, water-filled well, trapping all nine occupants inside.
As word of the accident spread, local residents and the Dindori police, led by Inspector Bhagwan Mathure, rushed to the scene to launch an immediate rescue operation. The high-stakes effort involved deploying two hydra cranes to hoist the submerged vehicle, while local swimmers and divers braved the dark, treacherous waters to reach those inside. They were supported on-site by emergency services and specialized disaster management units.
Despite this swift and coordinated response, the grueling operation lasted over two hours. By the time rescuers finally managed to pull the vehicle from the well around midnight, it was tragically too late; all nine passengers were declared dead on arrival at the government hospital in Dindori.
The victims included three adults and six children, some as young as seven years old. Witnesses described a harrowing scene as rescuers recovered the bodies of children still dressed in their festive attire from the evening's function.
The Maharashtra Police have registered a case and are investigating whether the accident was caused by a mechanical failure, driver fatigue, or the lack of visibility and safety barriers near the well.
This incident has reignited local anger regarding road safety in Dindori. Residents had previously petitioned for better street lighting and protective fencing around roadside wells following a similar accident in July last year that claimed seven lives. For now, a village is left to grapple with the unimaginable loss of an entire generation of a single family.