Toddler falls into open well, dies at Punchakkari

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The body of a two-year-old boy was fished out from a 150 feet deep open well at Punchakkari after four hours of rescue operations that concluded on Tuesday at 3am. As per Thiruvallam police, the deceased identified as Sidharth, son of Rajesh of Puthuval house, Kizhakkekari near Punchakkari fell into the well after crawling up a chair kept near the handrail.

The child was playing near the well which was located right outside the door of the kitchen. At around 10pm, the boy ran up to the chair kept by his grandmother to bathe him.

Before his mother Swapna could hold him, Sidharth had fallen into the well which had water which was10 feet deep. There were no other houses in the vicinity of the villa located on a hilly terrain. Rajesh came inside the house hearing the commotion, said Thiruvallam SI VS Vipin.

The Thiruvallam police and Vizhinjam fire force station was alerted at 10.20pm. Unfortunately, the fire and rescue vehicle could not proceed to the house as the road was blocked by granite chips unloaded for road construction work.

The rescue mission was abandoned once due to lack of oxygen and unbearable heat inside the well that is surrounded by laterite rock. Another unit from Chenkalchoola rushed to the spot with oxygen cylinders and more lights.

Attempts to recover the body using hooks (pathalakarandi) also failed. After this, water was drained out of the well and the body was taken out. It was then sent to Medical College Hospital for the autopsy. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon.

Rajesh was a supervisor with KSEB in Idukki and as per earlier statements given by the family, the child had slipped out from his father’s hand. Police has registered a case and started a probe. Sidharth also leaves behind an older sister.