RAIPUR: Rescue operations on a war footing to save a 10-year-old speech and hearing impaired boy who fell into an abandoned 80-ft-deep borewell in a small village of Janjgir Champa district of Chhattisgarh on Friday evening. It's the largest ever rescue mission in the state.
Oxygen is being piped to the boy, Rahul Sahu. Teams from Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are on site, where hundreds of police and administrative personnel have gathered.
Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is keeping tabs on the situation, tweeted, "I got information that an NDRF team from Odisha has arrived in Pihrid-Malkharoda village and the rescue operation is on under the supervision of an expert, Mohanty ji. Collective efforts are underway to save the child and senior administrative officers are present on the spot. We are all keeping an eye on the updates." Baghel spoke with Rahul's parents Lala and Geeta Sahu on video call and assured them that everything is being done to rescue him.
10-year-old Rahul was playing in backyard when he slipped into uncovered borewell
A Gujarat resident, Mahesh Ahir, tweeted that his invention — ‘borewell rescue robot’ — can help save the boy. The Chhattisgarh government is in touch with him to get his assistance in saving the child.
Rahul had stopped responding late at night and it is assumed that he got fatigued and fell asleep. Rescuers heaved a sigh of relief when he began responding on Saturday morning. “Rahul is breathing and responding since morning.
He has eaten a banana and taken water. We could see his hand. We have dug to a depth of 45 feet, and need to dig around 20 feet more,” Janjgir Champa SP Vijay Agrawal told TOI. One of the major concerns is that it’s searing hot during the day.
Rahul was playing in the backyard of his house in the afternoon when he slipped into the borewell that was never in use and left uncovered. After some time, his family realized he was missing and went looking for him. His can’t speak but is able to make some noises. His parents heard his voice coming from within the borewell and informed police.
The rescue operation was launched around 4 pm, said the SP. An NDRF team arrived at night and began digging an escape tunnel.
Over 500 administrative and police officers and rescue workers from three districts are on the scene. The rescue teams include four IAS officers, three IPS officers, including the SP, two deputy collectors, five tehsildars, four DSP and eight inspectors. Experts from Durg, Bilaspur and Raigarh are also there. Doctors are on standby.
