Bhavnagar Gambling Scare: 3 Die After Falling Into Well

BHAVNAGAR: “Run!” One shouted warning was enough to turn an alleged late-night gambling gathering in Ukharla village into a tragedy, with three men reportedly fleeing in panic and falling into a deserted well. All three died, while another person survived after reportedly clinging to the edge of the well.

The incident occurred in the Wadi area of Ukharla village in Ghogha taluka, where around 11 people were allegedly gambling late at night. The deceased have been identified as Rahul Popatbhai Chauhan, Nilesh Dabhi and Ajitsinh Sindha. Their bodies were later recovered and sent for postmortem.

The circumstances surrounding the deaths have sparked conflicting claims. Family members alleged that the gamblers panicked after someone warned that police had arrived to conduct a raid. However, Vartej Police have categorically denied that any raid took place.

Jagdishbhai, brother of deceased Ajitsinh, said his sister called him in the morning after Ajitsinh failed to return home. “We came to know that gambling was going on and that the police had come to raid. Three people were hiding there,” he alleged.

He said a relative went to the spot and initially found two people, while another survivor was reportedly hanging near the well.

“One person was hanging near the well and his life was saved. He knows what happened there and had said that the police had come,” Jagdishbhai claimed.

Kuldeep Singh, son of deceased Ajitsinh, also alleged that people fled after the warning. “They ran when they heard the shout. People run away out of fear when they think there is a raid,” he said.

However, the PSI of Vartej Police Station said the allegation of a police raid was not true. According to the officer, police received information in the morning about a body lying in a field and subsequently recovered three bodies from the area.

“There was no police raid. Why these people had gathered there and what exactly happened is currently under investigation,” the PSI said.

The bodies were shifted to hospital for postmortem as police began investigating the circumstances that led to the fatal plunge into the well.