Thiruvananthapuram: Three people suffered serious burns after a fire broke out inside a well while it was being cleaned at Kallambalam in Thiruvananthapuram. The injured have been identified as Kallambalam natives Sunu, Vineeth and Unni, also known as Rakesh.

Vineeth and Unni, who suffered severe burns to their head, face and chest, were shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Both are undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit. Sunu, who sustained burns to his left hand and back, is being treated at Attingal Government Taluk Hospital.

The incident occurred around 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday. The accident took place while the three were cleaning a well located beneath a two-storey building adjacent to a petrol pump operating along the Kallambalam National Highway.

Following instructions from the pump manager to clean the well, well-cleaning workers Sunu and Vineeth reached the spot. After pumping out the water from the well, they lowered a bucket containing a lit candle to check for the presence of oxygen inside the well.

When the bucket had been lowered to a cetain depth, a fire suddenly broke out and flames spread upwards.

As the well was located beneath a two-storey building, the flames spread in four directions instead of rising upwards, reportedly increasing the severity of the accident.

Whether petrol or any other inflammable material was present inside the well, and whether fuel had entered the well from the nearby petrol pump, can be established only through an investigation.