'Toddler pulled out from borewell died 'few days back'

A two-year-old child stuck in a borewell shaft here was pulled out dead on Tuesday morning, bringing a four-day rescue operation to a tragic end.

Rescue workers retrieved Fatehvir Singh from the 150-foot disused shaft in Bhagwanpura village at 4.45 am, after an effort that lasted nearly 110 hours amid diminishing hopes of the boy being brought out alive.

A waiting ambulance, carrying doctors and a life-support ventilator, carried the toddler 130 km away to Chandigarh’s Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). Doctors there pronounced him dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination indicated that the death took place “a few days back,” the hospital said in a statement.

Family members and other villagers struggled to hold back tears as the body was placed in a small wooden coffin before being consigned to the flames.

The death triggered fresh protests, with local residents blocking roads, accusing authorities of botching up the rescue operation.

Amid criticism from Opposition parties over alleged lapses, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked the state’s disaster management group, headed by the chief secretary, to come up with recommendations to deal better with such situation in the future.

Fatehvir had stepped on a disused shaft, covered with a piece of cloth, on Thursday afternoon. After the post-mortem, a helicopter arranged by the Punjab government brought the toddler’s body back to Bhagwanpura.

The child had turned two on Monday, when he was still stuck at a depth of 125 feet in the shaft.

Rescue workers had dug along the shaft in their effort to reach the boy. The body was brought out at 4.45 am, an official said.

As the news spread about Fatehvir's death, villagers raised slogans against the government.

They also blocked roads, including the ITI Chowk, demanding action against officials responsible for the “delay”. There had been similar protests on Monday as well.

Relatives expressed anger at the authorities.

"They didn't use the proper technique to rescue him early on. Trial and error methods were adopted for days. Where were the modern methods and technology?" a relative said.

Villagers claimed that ultimately he was pulled out from the borewell by clamps fastened to his hands.

“If they had to use this method, they could have done it much before. What was the purpose of prolonging the family's agony,” said a villager.

Rescue workers managed to supply oxygen but no food or water could be provided to him, officials said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has expressed grief. "Very sad to hear about the tragic death of young Fatehveer. I pray that Waheguru grants his family the strength to bear this huge loss. Have sought reports from all DCs (deputy commissioners) regarding any open bore well so that such terrible accidents can be prevented in the future," he said on Twitter.