2 farmers who fell inside tunnel in Pune district found dead

The farmers had reached the tunnel opening to lower a water pump to draw water for agricultural use.

Indapur tehsildar Shrikant Patil said, “The tunnelling work of the Nira Bhima Stabilisation Project is underway. Farmers living in the vicinity lower pumps into the tunnel and draw water for agricultural use. The two farmers were using a locally made tractor-mounted crane to reach the water to install the pump when the rope snapped and the duo fell into the tunnel. The accident happened around 5.30 pm.”

The Krishna-Bhima stabilisation 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.