Kamal Ghorui
HOSHIARPUR:A four-year-old boy who fell into a newly dug borewell while playing near his home in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district was rescued safely after a massive nine-hour operation involving multiple rescue agencies and local volunteers, officials said.The incident took place on Friday night in Chak Samana village near Bhikhowal on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road.The child, identified as Gurkaran Singh, had fallen into the borewell and was trapped at a depth of around 20 to 30 feet, officials said.Rescue teams managed to pull him out at around 12.40 am, following which he was rushed to a hospital for medical examination and treatment.After being rescued, the child was carried out in the arms of an NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) personnel. Though his face was covered in soil, the boy appeared stable.Relieved family members and villagers embraced the NDRF personnel and other rescuers, thanking them profusely for their efforts during the operation.Deputy commandant NDRF Pankaj Sharma told PTI that the child’s condition was stable. He noted that the rescue operation was challenging because of the loose soil that kept collapsing. “Our rescuers put in a commendable effort throughout the entire rescue operation,” he stated.Officials said the rescue operation was carried out jointly by teams from the NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Punjab Police, district administration, fire brigade, and local volunteers.Punjab minister Ravjot Singh and AAP MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal remained at the site throughout the rescue operation and closely monitored the efforts.Deputy commissioner Aashika Jain said the administration responded immediately after receiving information about the incident around 4 pm.She said the child had fallen into an open borewell located next to the family’s house.Officials said the borewell had recently been made operational, but the process of filling gravel and soil around it had not yet been completed.Jain said rescue teams initially lowered a camera and oxygen pipe into the borewell to monitor the child’s condition and ensure oxygen supply.“The child’s movements were visible in the footage initially, which helped rescuers assess the situation,” she said.Officials said loose soil later slipped into the borewell, hampering camera surveillance and making the rescue operation more challenging.Deputy commissioner Aashika Jain said rescue teams dug a parallel pit up to a depth of around 25 to 30 feet before creating a narrow tunnel to safely reach the child.Officials said the administration, along with local villagers, arranged heavy machinery, including earth-moving equipment, for the operation.They said the sandy nature of the soil posed a major challenge as it repeatedly caved in. Rescue teams operated the machinery with extreme caution to ensure that no soil fell on the child and endangered his safety.Jain said more than 40 NDRF personnel were involved in the rescue effort.She also thanked the NDRF, SDRF, Punjab Police, civil administration officials, medical teams, volunteers and local residents for their coordinated efforts and dedication in ensuring the child’s safe rescue.Senior superintendent of police Sandeep Kumar Malik praised the rescue teams, saying their dedication and coordinated efforts played a crucial role in saving the child’s life.During the operation, the administration also called the child’s mother to the site and asked her to speak to him so he could hear a familiar voice and stay calm.Officials said oxygen was supplied to the boy through a pipe lowered into the borewell.Punjab minister Ravjot Singh said medical and emergency teams remained on standby throughout the operation to provide immediate treatment to the child after his rescue.AAP MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal described the mission as highly sensitive and challenging, adding that the continuous efforts of all agencies ensured the operation’s success.A large number of locals gathered near the site as rescue teams carried out operations through the night.(With agency inputs)
