A tragic end to a nine-day-long rescue operation unfolded in Kiratpur village, Rajasthan, as a 3-year-old girl, who had fallen into a 150-foot-deep borewell, succumbed to her injuries despite extensive efforts to save her.
The toddler fell into the borewell on the morning of December 23 while playing in an agricultural field owned by her father. Authorities immediately launched a large-scale rescue operation, mobilizing teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration.
Medical Examination
Following her rescue, the child was rushed for medical evaluation, but her condition continued to deteriorate.
Principal Medical Officer Chaitanya Rawat stated, “The health condition of the girl was not right… A team of three doctors examined her.”
Despite their efforts, the child passed away, and her body was subsequently moved to the mortuary. “The body has been shifted to the mortuary. Her postmortem is underway,” Rawat added. The findings from the medical team have been submitted for further investigation.
Challenging Rescue Operation
The rescue operation faced numerous obstacles, particularly due to the rocky terrain around the borewell and the temperature difference between the surface and the tunnel. On December 26, officials implemented an alternative strategy, lowering a casing pipe to stabilize the area around the borewell.
However, the challenges remained immense. By December 29, authorities reported that tunnel construction to reach the child was progressing but with significant difficulty.
Community and Authorities React
The incident has sparked conversations about child safety measures and the need to secure open borewells in rural areas. While the rescue teams worked tirelessly, the heartbreaking outcome has left the community and authorities in grief.
Efforts are now being directed toward investigating the circumstances of the tragedy and ensuring preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.