A three-year-old girl fell into an abandoned borewell in a village, near here, on Saturday morning, triggering massive rescue operations by multiple agencies and local residents, even as fears grew about her condition at a depth of about 30 feet.
The incident, which shook the sleepy Pallagacheri village in Thiagadurgam block and also turned the spotlight again on lack of safety measures, happened at 8 a.m. when R.Madhumitha stepped on a polythene sack that served as the borewell cover.
The plight of Madhumitha came to light after her aunt heard her cries from the borewell. By 9.30 a.m., a team of rescuers reached the spot.
Firemen and a team from TVS Community College, Madurai also joined in the rescue efforts.
Throughout the day, various strategies were implemented, from basic measures such as maintaining oxygen supply, making an alternative route with the use of a soil cutter and sending in a camera-fixed robotic arm. At the time of going to the press, the girl, an only child, was said to be unconscious.
