Rajasthan: NDRF expressed hope that the girl trapped in the borewell will be rescued soon

Rajasthan: Despite challenges in slicing through solid rock, the rescue effort to free a three-and-a-half-year-old child trapped in a borewell in Rajasthan is making headway. According to NDRF officials, authorities plan to finish the job by Monday.

According to NDRF team in-charge Yogesh Kumar Meena, the operation, which is now on its ninth day, entails building a tunnel to get to the captive girl.

“We are having problems because of the solid rock. Although the rock is difficult to cut through, rescue efforts are in progress. We’re hoping to have the girl back shortly. We will attempt to finish everything by tomorrow, but we have about half of the job done,” Meena told reporters on Sunday.

Kalpana Agarwal, the district collector for Kotputli-Behror, said on Sunday that the rough terrain of the tunnel path has made it more difficult to dig a tunnel to reach the girl. Problems are also being caused by the substantial temperature differential between the tunnel’s top and bottom.

“We are building the tunnel…the challenge has increased because the tunnel route is rocky…there is a huge difference in temperature at the top and bottom…all options are being considered and discussed…the best equipment has been made available,” Agarwal said.

On Thursday night (December 26), the authorities said, the operation reached a critical stage when a casing pipe was dropped into the hole adjacent to the borewell and the B-plan was put into action.

The rescue effort is being led by authorities, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), and local government.

Despite the difficult circumstances, an NDRF official said that they are doing all in their power to save the girl.

On December 23, the child was playing in her father’s agricultural field in Kiratpura village when she slipped down the borewell.