9-yr-old dies after 39-hr rescue effort fails in Phalodi

Jodhpur: In a heartbreaking end to one of the longest rescue operations in the region, nine-year-old Bhomaram, who fell into a borewell at Punia Ki Dhani in Rajasthan’s Phalodi district on Thursday afternoon, was brought out early on Saturday after nearly 39 hours of relentless efforts.

However, the child could not be saved and was declared dead by doctors at Lohawat Hospital, where he was taken immediately after the rescue.

The tragedy unfolded on Thursday afternoon when Bhomaram fell into a 1,050-foot-deep borewell at around 12.30 pm in the Nausar gram panchayat area under Lohawat. He remained trapped at approximately 640 feet, prompting an emergency response from the district administration, police and specialised rescue teams.

As news of the incident spread, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams launched a rescue operation, racing against time to bring the child to safety.

The operation encountered a major hurdle when rescuers discovered a large rock lodged inside the borewell, around 30 feet above the boy. The obstruction restricted the movement of pipes and equipment and prevented rescuers from lowering a camera to monitor his condition. Efforts to ensure an oxygen supply were also hampered, Phalodi Superintendent of Police Aditya Kakade said.

Concern mounted on Friday morning when a camera that had earlier captured the child’s movement no longer showed any motion. Despite uncertainty over his condition, rescue teams continued their efforts. After repeated attempts to clear the obstruction failed, authorities called in Madaram Suthar and his team from Jalore district, known for their indigenous rescue techniques. The team devised a specialised arrangement using iron rods to remove the rock.

After nearly 34 hours of work, the obstruction was finally cleared, allowing rescuers to intensify efforts to retrieve the child. Bhomaram was brought out at around 3.35 am on Saturday.

An ambulance rushed him to Lohawat Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Despite coordinated efforts by multiple agencies and attempts to overcome the challenging conditions, the operation ended in tragedy, leaving his family inconsolable and the local community mourning the loss of the young boy.

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The Hans India