Schoolgirl dies after accidental fall into dry well in Tirupur

Tirupur: A 17-year-old schoolgirl died after she accidentally fell into a 100-foot-deep dry well on Saturday night. Police said the mishap took place when the girl tried to stop her father, after he threatened to jump into the well following a family dispute.The deceased has been identified as R Rithika, daughter of Ravichandran, 45, and Malathiselvi, 40, of Koorumbapalayam Settikadu Thottam. She was a Class XII student at a govt-aided school in Avinashi.Police said Ravichandran, who had given up alcohol for the past seven years, returned home in an inebriated state on Saturday night. An argument broke out between the couple and Malathiselvi reprimanded her husband for drinking again.

Distressed by the confrontation, Ravichandran threatened to end his life by jumping into a nearby well and walked out of the home.Malathiselvi and Rithika went after him to bring him back. “Since it was dark, Rithika lost her footing when she lunged forward to grab her father, and fell into the well,” said a police officer with Sevur station.Her mother alerted the Avinashi fire and rescue services and the Sevur police. However, when they arrived, they found the girl dead, and recovered her body.Police have registered a case and are investigating further.