The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Dimapur, has issued a public safety advisory cautioning the public against entering ring wells, deep wells and other confined spaces for cleaning, repair or maintenance without proper safety arrangements and assistance from trained personnel.
The advisory follows two reported ring well incidents in the district. In one incident in October 2026, two persons reportedly died while cleaning a deep ring well at a neighbour’s residence in Oriental Colony. In another incident on October 9, 2025, the body of a 55-year-old man was retrieved from a ring well at Rangapahar, approximately 3 Mile, Dimapur. The latter incident is suspected to have involved suffocation due to methane gas inhalation.
In view of these tragic incidents, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of DDMA Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, NCS, has urged the public to strictly observe safety precautions while undertaking well-cleaning and maintenance activities.
The advisory warned that wells and other confined spaces may contain dangerously low levels of oxygen or toxic gases, which can cause unconsciousness or death without warning. It advised the public never to enter a well without proper safety arrangements and professional assistance.
The DDMA further cautioned against attempting untrained rescue operations if a person collapses or becomes unconscious inside a well. Instead, the public has been advised to immediately alert emergency response authorities, as entering the well without appropriate equipment could put additional lives at risk.
The advisory also stressed the need to engage trained and properly equipped personnel for cleaning, inspection, repair and maintenance of wells. Proper gas testing and ventilation must be ensured before any authorised entry, and the atmosphere inside the well must be checked for oxygen deficiency and hazardous gases. The public has been cautioned not to assume that the air is safe merely because no unusual smell is detected.
Additionally, the DDMA urged residents to keep children and unauthorised persons away from open wells and well-cleaning sites to prevent accidental falls and other mishaps.
For emergencies, the public may contact the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) at 17000806142 or DDMA Dimapur at 8131924008. The public has also been advised to keep the area clear and ensure unobstructed access for emergency response and rescue personnel.
The advisory emphasised that well-cleaning and maintenance activities must not be undertaken without adequate safety measures and trained personnel, stating that no cleaning or maintenance work is worth risking human life.