Thiruchirapalli : Elaborate rescue operations lasting four days, could not save two-year-old Surjith Wilson, who died trapped in borewell for 80 hours without food and water.
Parallel tunnel to rescue the toddler was in progress, when foul smell emanated Tuesday morning from the borewell. The operation halted after doctors confirmed occurrence of death. The dismembered body, in highly decomposed state, was then retrieved from the borewell.
Rocky terrain and heavy rains hampered rescue efforts. Criticisms against National Disaster Rescue Force(NDRF) also claim they reached the site only 9 hours after the accident. Thousands of people including politicians and celebrities were following the rescue closely.
2-year-old Surjith was playing near the abandoned borewell on Friday evening when he fell inside. The child who was initially trapped around 26 feet, is believed to have slipped to 88 feet or more, after attempts to pull him using a rope proved disastrous.
Officials are unsure of the borewell's full depth and put it between 600 to 1000 feet below.
