Tragic Borewell Accident in Ujjain Claims Life of Toddler After Prolonged Rescue Effort
A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where a two-and-a-half-year-old boy from Rajasthan lost his life after falling into a borewell. The child, identified as Bhagirath, son of Pansaram alias Praveen Devasi from Gudanala village in Pali district, was playing near the borewell on Ayub Khan's farm in Jhalariya village along Palduna road when the tragedy struck on Thursday evening.
Details of the Accident and Rescue Operation
According to his uncle Paras, Bhagirath pushed aside the cover of the borewell and attempted to sit with one leg inside, an action witnessed by his mother before he slipped in and became trapped at a depth of 60 to 70 feet. This prompted an immediate and extensive rescue operation involving a 200-member team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Bhopal, Harda, and Indore.
The rescue efforts, which commenced by 9 pm on Thursday, employed two parallel strategies. One approach focused on extraction through the borewell itself, while the other involved digging a canal-like pit nearby. This pit was excavated to over 50 feet using earth-moving machines and hammer drills in a race against time.
Successful Extraction and Tragic Outcome
After 21 grueling hours, the Harda SDRF team achieved a breakthrough by utilizing a borewell-improvised tool kit along with an underwater camera. They managed to locate the child, loop his hands, and pull him to the surface with support from below. However, the joy of rescue was short-lived.
Medical officer Dr. Suyash Srivastava confirmed that Bhagirath was brought to Badnagar Civil Hospital by ambulance in an unconscious state and was declared dead upon arrival. The body was handed over to the grieving family after a postmortem examination. Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma noted that the family had been camping on Ayub Khan's farm for several years during their annual migration from Rajasthan, and a case of unnatural death has been registered.
Family's Shattered Wedding Plans
Adding to the tragedy, the family had been preparing to leave that very day for a wedding in Pali. Bhagirath's maternal aunt shared that he had been given new clothes for the occasion and had spent the previous day excitedly wearing them around the house, highlighting the poignant contrast between anticipation and loss.
This incident underscores the critical need for enhanced safety measures around borewells to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.
