Team News Riveting
Raipur, June 13
The rescue operation to pull out 10-year-old Rahul Sahu struck in a borewell in Chhattisgarh’s Champa-Janjgir district is facing manifold challenges.
However, what remains unchallenged is the commitment of Chhattisgarh government, dedication of the team involved in the rescue operation and the mettle of the boy who fell into a borewell in Pihrid village and stuck 60-feet beneath four days ago. The local administration swung into action soon after getting the information and put the best resources at work to save the boy. But the ground situation is inflicting multiple challenges.
Battling the challenges, the rescue team is slowly moving closer to Rahul while preparing a tunnel in the pit dug parallel to the borewell 60 feet below. Rahul’s spirit and response have bestowed breather and strength to the teams involved in the operation. The boy has eaten banana and has been active, braving the difficulties in the narrow pit.
Besides Army, NDRF and SDRF teams had been involved in the operation. A team of mining experts from coal-miner Southern Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and other establishments were engaged to help the team. Sources said rocks had created obstruction in the parallel tunnel digging. The mental state of the boy and the obstruction had failed the attempts to pull the boy using a metallic hook attached to a rope—a successful operation conducted just five days ago in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district. The Army personnel securely entangled the hook to the child’s clothes and steadily pulled him up.
Meanwhile, the change of weather has also put the authorities in a fix. The rising water level inside the borewell posed a new threat. The local residents have been asked to use the borewells across the village to maintain the level besides efforts to regulate it from the dam.
Meanwhile, heavy machinery has been launched to clear the rock obstacle while digging a parallel tunnel though the team is maintaining maximum caution to avoid mud sliding that could cast its impact on the borewell where Rahul had been stuck. The experts had decided to proceed by inserting an iron pipe into the tunnel.
The fear of snakes and scorpions in the crevices of rocks and stones had also created a new concern. The administration had deployed snake experts and anti-venom was also arranged on the spot.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is keeping a close watch on the unfolding developments in the on-going operation and has been in constant touch with the authorities. He had talked to the family members of the boy and gave moral support.
