A 39-hour rescue operation to save nine-year-old Bhomaram after he fell into a borewell at Punia Ki Dhani in Phalodi district ended in tragedy early Saturday, when the child was declared dead at a hospital shortly after being pulled out, according to a report by the Times of India.
Bhomaram had fallen into a 1,050-foot-deep borewell and was trapped at a depth of about 640 feet. The rescue operation involved the district administration, police, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force. Rescue teams reached him at around 3.30 am on Saturday, but the child could not be saved.
The operation was slowed by a large stone obstruction inside the borewell. The obstruction was located approximately 30 feet above Bhomaram and prevented the teams from lowering pipes and other rescue equipment to the required depth. It also affected arrangements to supply oxygen to the child, the report said.
Rescue teams continued working through the night as conventional methods failed to provide access. The administration then sought assistance from Madaram Suthar, who is known for developing indigenous rescue techniques. A special tool made from iron rods was devised to remove the obstruction.
After nearly 34 hours of effort, the stone was removed, allowing the rescue operation to enter its final phase. The team subsequently spent another five hours pulling Bhomaram out of the borewell. He was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead shortly afterwards.
The incident required coordination between local officials, police and specialised disaster-response teams because of the depth of the borewell and the obstruction inside it. The rescue effort also involved adapting equipment and methods when the initial approach was unable to reach the child.
The report did not provide details of the borewell’s ownership, the circumstances leading to the child’s fall or any administrative action following the death. It also did not state whether the borewell had been sealed, fenced or otherwise secured before the incident. These details remain relevant to determining how the accident occurred and what steps authorities will take at the site.
The operation’s outcome highlights the severe access and equipment challenges involved in borewell accidents, particularly when a victim is trapped hundreds of feet below ground. In this case, a single obstruction significantly delayed the lowering of rescue equipment and the final extraction. The administration’s next steps and any investigation into the incident were not specified in the supplied report.
