Five family members died while allegedly trying to rescue a cat that fell into a well in India.

One of the victims had plunged down the cow manure-filled hole, which was being used as a biogas pit, to save the feline in Vakadi Village in Maharashtra on April 9.

However, he was also trapped in the well, prompting the rest of his family to jump in one by one.

Residents called police after hearing the family scream for help as they suffocated in the noxious fumes.

Ahmednagar Police Superintendent Rakesh Ola said: 'Initial information suggests that a cat had fallen into an abandoned well filled with slurry of animal waste. One person entered to rescue the cat and fell into the slurry. Others went in one after the other for the rescue.
'Preliminary information suggests that six persons had fallen. One of them was taken out and rushed to a local hospital.'

The sole survivor named Vijay was saved thanks to a rope he had tied around his waist before jumping. He was rushed to a hospital and is now stable, authorities said.

Rescuers took five hours to pull out the family's dead bodies from the sludge of animal feces.

The deceased were identified by local media as Manik Kale, 65, Manik's son Sandeep, 36, Anil Kale, 53, Anil's son Bablu, 28, and Babasaheb Gaikwad, 36.

All six were local farmers in the village.