The loose soil that collapsed on the boy has posed a major hurdle to rescue workers
Picture used for representational purpose. (Photo: DC/File)
Hubli: The ordeal to save the boy Thimmanna Hatti, trapped in a 160-foot deep borewell, continued for the fourth day on Wednesday, but efforts by rescue teams proved elusive.
The administration relied on digging of parallel tunnel undertaken by the rescue team of Hatti Gold Mines Ltd. However, they could reach only up to 90-feet till Wednesday and at least another four days may be required for them to reach up to the boy.
The operation has also hampered by intermittent drizzle. Robot expert Manikandan, who arrived from Madurai, failed to pull out the boy through the device invented by him. The loose soil that collapsed on the boy has posed a major hurdle to rescue workers.
The administration tried to assist him by removing the soil through the vacuum cleaner, but it was not very effective. The administration then ordered high powered sucking machine from JK Cement of Bagalkot for the purpose. But the diameter of the machine was higher than that of the borewell. Therefore, rescue teams had to revert to the use of vacuum cleaner.
Meanwhile District Health Officer D. B. Kittur said foul smell was emanating from the borewell and that means the body was getting decomposed.
Meanwhile, the boy’s father Hanumanthappa Hatti, who is undergoing treatment at the district hospital, is recovering. He had fallen unconscious during a meeting with MP P C Gaddigoudar on Tuesday.
He appealed the elected representatives to hand over his farm land in its original form by refilling the trench.
“I have already lost standing sugarcane crop worth Rs 10 lakh. I can settle my loan taken for digging borewells through hard work if the government returns my land by refilling the trench. It will require at least 3-4 years to make my farm land fertile to take up agriculture activities,” Hanumantappa said.
However, district in-charge minister S R Patil has assured that the State government will complete the rescue work without causing any hardship to the farmer.
“Ours is pro-farmer government. Therefore, we will pull out the boy without hurting his family members. I will resolve all problems confronting the farmer and also return his farm land by refilling the trench,” Patil said.
Meanwhile, more than hundred panchayat development officers (PDO) have staged protest in front of the office of Superintendent of Police in Bagalkot condemning suspension of Sulikeri village Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) in this connection. The protesters claimed that borewells do not come under his purview.
( Source : dc )
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