A young boy Firdous Ahmad Mir and his uncle Mohammad Shafi Mir were rescued around midnight, more than 10 hours after they remained in an over 20-foot-deep well in Chak-e-Hatmulla village of this Nagri area of the north Kashmir district.
On Friday evening, Firdous fell into the well near his residence while fetching a cricket ball. His uncle plunged into the well to save the nephew. However, both got stuck and a massive rescue operation was undertaken by locals, police and SRPF.
As part of the disaster management protocol, the rescuers dug a tunnel adjacent to the well in order to save precious lives. However, the rescue operation kept on getting hampered due to sloughing.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Doifode Sagar Dattatray, who himself supervised the operation towards its conclusion, told a local news agency, Global News Service (GNS), that the operation was sensitive and tough of its kind. He said that men and machinery which included four JCBs were moved within ten minutes of the incident. Three ambulances and a team of doctors were kept on standby.
Tehsildar, DySP Headquarters, SHO and other functionaries also oversaw the rescue operation till its conclusion at around 2:06 am.
“Soon after evacuation, the duo was removed to Sub District Hospital Kupwara for immediate treatment,” officials said
The Medical Superintendent of the Hospital Dr Abdul Gani Dar said that the boy has been sent back home being “absolutely fine.” “The elderly male (boy’s uncle) had humerus fracture (the medical name for breaking the bone in the upper arm) and he was referred to Bone and Joint hospital for orthopedic consultation. Otherwise, by other parameters he is also normal,” the MS added.
Meanwhile, the locals extended heartfelt gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner and other officers and officials who remained present throughout the operation.
