Rescue operations still on for baby in borewell

Gurgaon, June 22 (IANS) Four-year-old Mahi, who fell into a 70-foot deep borewell in Manesar town here, couldn't get any relief even after many hours of marathon efforts by the army's rescue team, said an official Friday.

"The big bore machine from Rapid Metro achieved its target (to dig parallel 75-feet tunnel) early hours Friday," said a senior officer, who was part of the rescue team.

"The gap between both the bores is about 8-feet. While digging the tunnel to reach the target (Mahi), from new bore to borewell, a big piece of hill stone became the big barrier in the way," the officer added.

Mahi slipped into a borewell near Manesar's Industrial Model Township (IMT) on National Highway-8, when her family was celebrating her birthday around 11 p.m. Wednesday.

Mahi is the daughter of Niraj Uppadhyay, who hails from Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district. Niraj is a security supervisor at a factory in Manesar and was living in Kasan village with his wife Sonia and another two-year old daughter.

Army's 3 engineer regiment from Delhi and National Security Guard personnel have taken the task of rescuing the child.

According to an official, the supply of oxygen was provided through a pipe to the child as well as to the personnel inside the tunnel.

Police have booked the plot owner, Rohtash Singh, a resident of Najafgarh in New Delhi.

Despite several raids, he could not be arrested, said Omprakash, Manesar station house officer.