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Local officials and army men were at work to rescue a two-year-old child who fell into a deep pit in Lahra Ka Pura village, 50 km east of Agra, on Thursday morning. The child, caught at 70-foot in the 150-foot borewell pit, however, was showing little movement at the time of filing of this report.

Sonu fell into the pit — allegedly left uncovered by the Jal Board after removing a pipe — at round 10 in the morning when he was playing, his mother said.

The parents informed the local administration. A parallel pit was dug with the help of a JCB machine. Oxygen was being pumped into the pit as army men were called in. The child did respond to calls early in the day, but not for long. Ground water level, which has gone up after the monsoon rains, was also worrying the rescue team.

“‘Efforts are on in full swing and all possible measures are being deployed to save the child,” Agra district magistrate Anil Kumar said. Lahra Ka Pura village is in Agra district.

Arrangement were being made to light up the area as rescue operation was expected to continue late into the night.