Kollam: In a shocking development, 3 people, including a Fire and Rescue officer, lost their lives in Neduvathur while attempting to save a woman who had jumped into a well. The deceased have been identified as Soni S Kumar (36), a firefighter from the Kottarakkara Fire and Rescue Unit and a native of Attingal, Archana (33), a local resident who reportedly jumped into the well and Shivakrishnan (22), her friend who also fell into the well during the rescue attempt.
Archana, who worked as a home nurse, had been living with Shivakrishnan for the past two months. On Wednesday night, Shivakrishnan allegedly returned home intoxicated and created a ruckus. Archana, in an attempt to prevent further issues, reportedly hid the remaining alcohol in the house. Enraged, Shivakrishnan allegedly assaulted her. Following the altercation, Archana jumped into the well in the courtyard of her house.
The fire force was called in after the suicide attempt, and Officer Soni S Kumar tied a rope around his waist before jumping in to rescue her.
As Sivakrishnan leaned on the wall of the well while shining a flashlight into it, the parapet gave way. Soni was on his way up with Archana when the wall collapsed, trapping and killing both of them. Sivakrishnan too fell into the well and died. Soni was pulled out immediately as he had a rope tied around him, while Archana and Sivakrishnan were recovered later after being trapped under the debris. Two units of fire force from Kundara and Kollam also rushed to the site for the rescue operations following the wall collapse.
Archana worked as a home nurse. She is survived by her three children — Aiswarya (14), Adityan (12), and Anusree (10). According to Renjini B, a ward member of Neduvathoor Grama Panchayat, the family had been living in the area for the past five years, and Sivakrishnan had moved in with them two months ago.
The family lived in a house built with funds of over ₹4 lakh under the LIFE Mission scheme. The construction was nearing completion,” Renjini told media. Sivakrishnan used to take care of the children while she was at work. Her mother, also a home nurse, lived nearby in rented accommodation.
Following the autopsy, the bodies were released to the families. Soni S Kumar’s remains will be kept at the Kottarakara Fire and Rescue Station for public viewing before being brought to his home in Attingal.