A four-year-old boy was rescued safely after being trapped for nearly nine hours inside a borewell in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, following a large-scale overnight operation involving disaster response teams, police officials and local volunteers.
The incident occurred on Friday evening in Chak Samana village near Bhikhowal on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road.
The child, identified as Gurkaran Singh, reportedly fell into a newly dug borewell while playing near his home and became trapped at a depth of around 20 to 30 feet.
Rescue teams managed to pull him out at approximately 12.40 am, after which he was immediately taken to a hospital for medical examination and treatment.
Officials said the child appeared stable after the rescue, although his face and body were covered in soil.
Massive Rescue Operation Through the Night
The rescue effort involved personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Punjab Police, district administration, fire brigade and local volunteers.
NDRF Deputy Commandant Pankaj Sharma said the operation was extremely challenging because of loose sandy soil that repeatedly collapsed during digging.
“Our rescuers put in a commendable effort throughout the entire rescue operation,” Sharma said, adding that the child’s condition was stable after being brought out safely.
Officials said rescuers initially lowered a camera and oxygen pipe into the borewell to monitor the child and maintain oxygen supply.
Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain said the child’s movements were initially visible through the camera footage, helping teams assess his position.
However, loose soil later slipped into the borewell, disrupting visibility and making the operation more difficult.
Parallel Pit and Tunnel Used to Reach Child
To safely reach the boy, rescue teams dug a parallel pit nearly 25 to 30 feet deep before creating a narrow tunnel leading to the borewell.
Heavy machinery, including earth-moving equipment, was deployed carefully to prevent additional soil from falling onto the child.
Officials said more than 40 NDRF personnel participated in the operation.
During the rescue effort, authorities also asked the child’s mother to speak to him from the site so he could hear a familiar voice and remain calm while trapped underground.
Oxygen continued to be supplied through a pipe lowered into the borewell throughout the operation.
Officials Praise Coordinated Effort
Punjab minister Ravjot Singh and AAP MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal remained at the site and monitored the rescue operation through the night.
Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Malik praised the coordinated efforts of all agencies, saying teamwork and dedication played a crucial role in saving the child’s life.
Deputy Commissioner Jain thanked the NDRF, SDRF, police personnel, medical teams, civil administration officials, volunteers and local residents for their support during the operation.
Officials said the borewell had recently been made operational, but the process of filling soil and gravel around it had not yet been completed at the time of the accident.
