A two-year-old girl, who accidentally fell into a borewell while playing in front of her house in Nagapattinam district, was rescued within two hours by a team of firefighters on Sunday.

K. Sivadarshini of Mela Pudupalli village in Keevalur taluk in Nagapattinam district was later taken to the Nagapattinam Government Hospital. There was no injury to the girl at the time of rescue, the firefighters saids.

The incident occurred in the afternoon when the girl who was playing in front of her house fell into the newly sunk borewell, dug to a depth of about 15 feet. A slab was apparently placed on the borewell but it gave way, said the fire service personnel. Upon hearing her cries, her parents alerted the neighbours who called the Fire and Rescue department. A team of about 20 firefighters from Velankanni and Thalaignayiru stations rushed to the village at around 2.45 p.m. and launched the rescue operation.
Immediate action

“The girl was trapped about 12 feet inside. Without losing time we organised oxygen supply to ensure that her condition was stable,” Nagapattinam District Fire Officer- in-charge K. Sathiyakeerthi told  Initially, the firefighters tried to rescue the girl from using a rope.

“But it was unsuccessful. So we pressed into service an earth mover and dug a pit up to a depth of about 15 feet adjacent to the borewell,” he said.

Three fighters entered the pit to to bring her out. A passage was made to link the pit with the borewell and the girl child was safely rescued in one and half hours, said Mr. Sathiyakeerthi.

The girl was brought out amid applause from the locals, who turned up in large numbers.

Mr. Sathiyakeerthi said preventive measures should be taken to ensure these borewells do not remain open.