Ahmedabad, Aug. 18 -- Three men died late on Monday after falling into an open well while fleeing what they believed was a police raid on a late-night card game in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district, police said.

The victims were identified by the police as Rahul Popatbhai Chauhan, 35; Nilesh Dabhi, 37; and Ajitsinh, 45. A fourth man who fell into the well survived.

Police said the incident took place in Ukharla village in Ghogha taluka.

Bhavnagar superintendent of police (SP) Nitesh Pandey said around 11 men had gathered to play cards in a field of the village when an unidentified vehicle approached. Fearing police officers were about to conduct a raid, the players ran in the dark, and some fell into an open agricultural well.

"They though...