Gujarat : Villagers’ Saves 9-Year-Old from 100-Foot Borewell 

Bhuj | Gujarat — A major tragedy was narrowly avoided in Umaiya village of Rapar taluka when a 9-year-old boy fell into a 100-foot-deep borewell while playing — only to be pulled out alive by the quick and courageous actions of local villagers.

The incident occurred when the boy, identified as Rakesh, was playing with friends in a farm area. The borewell, covered loosely with a stone, caught the boys’ attention. In his curiosity to peek inside, Rakesh moved the stone and lost his balance, tumbling into the dark shaft.

His friends, shocked and terrified, ran to alert the elders. “The moment we heard about it, the entire village rushed to the spot. There was no time to wait for official rescue teams — we knew every second counted,” said villager Maheshbhai Patel, who was among the first on scene.

Upon reaching the borewell, villagers called down to the child. Hearing Rakesh’s cries confirmed that he was still conscious and alive. Without wasting a moment, they devised a rescue plan using a strong rope. “We told him to stay calm and hold the rope tightly. It was a tense moment — one wrong move and things could have gone very wrong,” recalled another rescuer, Ramesh.

The rescue operation, conducted with remarkable coordination, succeeded in pulling Rakesh up safely. He sustained only minor injuries, including a fracture, but was otherwise unharmed — a miraculous outcome considering the fall’s depth.

Local residents credited their success to quick thinking and unity. “We have no advanced rescue equipment, but our presence of mind and teamwork saved the child’s life. Waiting for external help could have been fatal,” said Sarpanch Kamlesh.

The incident has once again sparked concerns over the safety of open and unused borewells in rural Gujarat. Villagers have urged authorities to ensure that abandoned borewells are sealed to prevent similar accidents in the future.