By Tahira Khan
In District Chiniot, Pakistan, agricultural well falls have been a persistent yet preventable cause of injuries and fatalities among farmers and livestock, with 286 incidents reported from 2013 to 2023. Previously, no protective measures were in place, leading to severe injuries such as 30 head trauma cases and 25 fractures cases, primarily affecting individuals aged 11–30. The highest number of these incidents occurred in 2023, nearing 70 cases, with Tehsil Chiniot being the most affected area. Alarmingly, 16 people lost their lives, and around 80 victims required hospitalization.
Additionally, animal-related incidents have also shown a growing trend, with nearly 50 cases reported in 2023 alone. This toll surpasses human-related falls in most years, leading to significant economic losses for farmers. However, responding to the fatal Well-Fall recurring incidents, Punjab Emergency Service Chiniot under my leadership launched a community-led initiative in 2017 to construct 2.5 to 3-foot-high safety walls around tube wells. Without government funding, over 1,411 wells were secured through community mobilization, significantly reducing incidents and financial losses.
The local farmers were sensitized to the gravity of this challenge and they were convinced that these Well-Fall Deaths Were Avoidable Deaths. They generously contributed resources for construction of these simple and cost-effective structures. Since the implementation of this initiative, no fall-related deaths have been reported at protected wells, proving that such tragedies were entirely avoidable. This innovative intervention underscores the significance of community-driven solutions in rural disaster risk reduction.
