Chhattisgarh boy, 11, who fell in borewell rescued after 110 hours

Around 15 army personnel queued-up and lifted the child on a stretcher from the tunnel - which was inside a 70-feet deep pit- and put him inside the ambulance.

Updated on: Jun 15, 2022, 05:29:25 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Eleven-year-old Rahul Sahu was rescued late on Tuesday, more than 110 hours after he fell into an 80-foot-deep borewell in Chhattisgarh’s Pihrid village, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said.

The rescue operation which was claimed to be the longest one in Chhattisgarh ended at 11.56 pm on Tuesday.. (Hindustan Times)

On Friday, Sahu fell into the borewell in the backyard of his residence in Pihrid village of Malkharoda development block while playing. A pipeline was installed for the oxygen supply.

“With everyone’s prayers and the relentless, dedicated efforts of the rescue team, Rahul Sahu has been brought out safely. It is our wish that he recovers completely as soon as possible,” the CM tweeted.

The Chhattisgarh administration had earlier said that the child was “breathing but not showing clear movement”.

Rahul Sahu who fell into an unused borewell after being successfully rescued.

“On Tuesday, the child did not show any movement, except in the evening when he signalled for food... It will take a few more hours,” said Vijay Agarwal, superintendent of police (Jangir-Champa).

Around 500 personnel, including officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army and the local police were involved in the massive rescue operation that had been underway since Friday evening.

A 70-feet pit parallel to the borewell was dug up on Friday evening, while a 15-feet tunnel was constructed to connect the pit with the borewell, people familiar with the matter said.

The government has also created a green corridor to shift the child to a Bilaspur hospital once he’s rescued, said an official familiar with the matter.

Bhupesh Baghel was continuously monitoring the situation.

“All resources have been deployed for this mammoth operation under the directions of the CM. The CM has been monitoring the operation continuously and is taking hourly updates directly. Although the trapped child is deaf and mute, the fearless spirit of the child is helping the rescuers work with greater zeal,” collector Jitendra Shukla had said earlier.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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