TAXILA: A man suffocated to death while his cousin fainted and was subsequently hospitalised as they fell victim to the poisonous gas in the well in village Samo in union council Garhi Afghanan in the limits of Taxila Police station on Friday, police and rescue official said.

According to the sources, the incident took place on agricultural land when a buffalo fell into a well accidentally.

Initially, 20-year-old Abdullah descended into the well to retrieve the buffalo but lost consciousness for want of oxygen. His cousin 35-year-old Muhammad Bilal in a bid to rescue him also get down the well but, he too, fell victim to the poisonous gas in the well.

Later, a Rescue 1122 team pulled out the unconscious victims from the well and were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital where one was pronounced dead while the others condition was stated to be critical.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2025