A 39-hour rescue operation to save nine-year-old Bhomaram, who fell into a 1,050-foot borewell at Punia Ki Dhani in Phalodi district, ended in tragedy early Saturday after the child was pulled out and declared dead at a hospital, according to a report by the Times of India.
Bhomaram had been trapped at a depth of around 640 feet inside the borewell. The rescue operation involved the district administration, police, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force. Teams worked continuously to reach the child and bring him out safely.
The operation was severely slowed by a large stone obstruction inside the borewell. The stone was reportedly lodged about 30 feet above Bhomaram, making it difficult for rescuers to lower pipes and other equipment to the required depth. Arrangements to supply oxygen were also affected by the obstruction.
After conventional rescue methods failed to clear the passage, the administration 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 stone and improve access to the trapped child.
The obstruction was finally removed after nearly 34 hours of work, allowing rescuers to begin the final phase of the operation. The team reached Bhomaram at about 3.30 am on Saturday and subsequently pulled him out over the next five hours.
The incident highlights the operational difficulties faced by rescue teams when a person falls into a deep, narrow borewell. In this case, the depth of the shaft, the child’s position, the stone obstruction and the difficulty of lowering rescue equipment extended the operation for more than a day and a half.
Borewell rescue operations require coordination between local authorities, specialised disaster-response teams, police and medical personnel. The Phalodi operation also involved the use of a locally developed tool after standard access methods were blocked by the stone, as the rescue effort entered its final stages.
Bhomaram was declared dead shortly after being taken to hospital. The Times of India report said the operation had continued through the night before the child was brought out early Saturday.
