Lucknow: GPS Blunder Sends Biker Into Well; Cops Use ‘Shawl-Rope’ for Miracle Rescue (Watch Video)
A 25-year-old motorcyclist was rescued from an open well in the Nagram area late Tuesday night after a GPS navigation error led him off course. In a swift response that has drawn praise for its ingenuity, local police officers utilized their own winter clothing—mufflers and shawls—to pull the victim to safety when professional rescue equipment was unavailable.
Lucknow, January 23: Two police constables in Lucknow's Nagram area are being hailed for their quick thinking after rescuing a 25-year-old motorcyclist who plunged into an open well late Tuesday night. Lacking immediate access to rescue equipment, the officers used their own mufflers and shawls to create a makeshift rope, pulling the man to safety after he had been trapped for over an hour.
The incident occurred around 12:10 a.m. on January 21. Ritesh Jaiswal, a resident of Arjunganj, was traveling from Lucknow to his native village in Rae Bareli. Unfamiliar with the route, Jaiswal relied on GPS navigation, which led him onto the Nagram–Khujouli road. Google Maps Mess Up Again! Woman’s Car Falls off Jetty Into Belapur Creek in Navi Mumbai After Relying on GPS (Watch Video).
Lucknow Police Use Personal Shawls to Save Man Trapped in Well
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Nipun Agarwal, Jaiswal lost control of his motorcycle while negotiating a sharp, poorly marked bend. The bike skidded off the road and struck the boundary wall of a well located in a nearby field. Jaiswal was thrown from the vehicle and fell directly into the shaft, which lacked protective railings or warning signs.
Constables Pawan Kumar Yadav and Surjit Verma were on a routine night patrol when they spotted an abandoned motorcycle by the roadside. Upon investigating the area with torches, they heard faint cries for help coming from the well. Bareilly Accident: GPS Error Leads to Car Plunging from Under-Construction Bridge, 3 Dead.
“With no rescue equipment immediately available, the constables showed presence of mind,” said Additional DCP (South) Vasanth Rallapalli. The officers tied their winter gear—mufflers and shawls—together to form a lifeline. Jaiswal, who had managed to stay afloat by clinging to a rock inside the well, was pulled out following a 30-minute effort by the officers.
Jaiswal was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. He was later released to his family. Reflecting on the ordeal, Jaiswal noted that several people had likely passed by without hearing his pleas. “I was inside the well for at least an hour and a half,” he said. “Fortunately, these men heard me and came to the rescue.”
The incident has highlighted concerns regarding road safety and the lack of physical barriers around deep wells in rural areas, while also drawing praise for the Lucknow Police's resourceful response.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 23, 2026 02:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).