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3-Year-Old Dies in Ujjain Borewell Tragedy; CM Announces Rs 4 Lakh Aid

A three-year-old boy named Bhagirath died after falling into an uncovered borewell in Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh. A complex, multi-agency rescue operation involving the NDRF and SDERF continued for over a day but ultimately failed to save him. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the "extremely painful" incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the family. Authorities have ordered an inquiry and initiated a drive to identify and seal such hazardous open borewells in the district.

Key Points: Ujjain Borewell Tragedy: Boy Dies, CM Announces Ex Gratia

  • 3-year-old boy dies in open borewell
  • Challenging multi-agency rescue operation lasts over a day
  • CM announces Rs 4 lakh ex gratia for family
  • Inquiry ordered, drive to seal open borewells launched
2 min read

Ujjain borewell tragedy: CM expresses grief, announces an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh

A 3-year-old boy died after falling into an open borewell in Ujjain. CM Mohan Yadav announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia. A rescue operation lasted over a day.

"extremely painful - Chief Minister Mohan Yadav"

Ujjain, April 10

A three-year-old boy, Bhagirath, who fell into an open borewell in Jhalaria village under Badnagar tehsil of Ujjain district in Madhya Pradesh, was declared dead on Friday after a prolonged and challenging rescue operation.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and announced financial assistance for the bereaved family.

In a statement, he termed the incident "extremely painful" and extended his condolences.

The Chief Minister also announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh and prayed for strength for the family to cope with the loss.

The incident took place on Thursday when the child was playing near his house and accidentally slipped into an uncovered borewell. The narrow and deep structure made rescue efforts extremely difficult, prompting an immediate and large-scale emergency response.

As soon as information reached authorities, teams from the district administration, police, State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to the site.

A multi-agency rescue operation was launched and continued throughout Thursday night and followed on Friday.

Rescue teams initially tried to establish contact with the child and supplied oxygen through pipes.

Cameras were inserted into the borehole to track his position. At the same time, heavy machinery was used to dig a parallel pit in an effort to reach him safely.

The operation faced several challenges, including loose soil, depth issues, and the constant risk of collapse. Rescue workers proceeded with extreme caution, digging carefully and stabilising the surrounding area. Teams worked in shifts for several hours to ensure the rescue operation continued without interruption.

After intense efforts, the rescuers finally managed to reach the child and pull him out. However, he was found unresponsive and was immediately taken for medical examination, where doctors declared him dead.

Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident, focusing on negligence related to the uncovered borewell.

Officials have also started a drive to identify and seal such open borewells in the district to prevent similar tragedies.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Salute to the NDRF and SDERF teams who worked tirelessly through the night. The challenges they face in such operations are immense. The real tribute to Bhagirath would be a nationwide audit to cap all abandoned borewells. Jai Hind.
A
Aman W
How many more children have to die before we learn? This is pure negligence. The CM's grief and ex-gratia are just formalities. We need accountability and preventive action, not just announcements after the tragedy.
S
Sarah B
As a mother, I can't even begin to imagine the pain. The thought of that little boy trapped is just devastating. The drive to identify open borewells should have been standard procedure long ago. This should be a wake-up call for every district administration.
V
Vikram M
While the compensation is necessary, it can never replace a child. The inquiry must name and shame the landowner/contractor responsible. We have laws, they need to be enforced strictly. Om Shanti for the little soul.
K
Karthik V
The technical challenges in this rescue were huge—loose soil, risk of collapse. Hats off to the rescue workers for their bravery. But this highlights a systemic failure in rural safety. Gram panchayats must be made responsible for identifying such hazards.

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