Tanore prays as toddler still lies trapped in borehole

Rescue teams in Rajshahi’s Tanore upazila are working in the night in a desperate attempt to save two-year-old Md Swadhin, who fell into a 50-foot abandoned tube-well borehole on Wednesday afternoon.

By evening, rescuers were still digging and pumping oxygen into the narrow shaft, as faint responses from the trapped child raised hopes that he may still be alive.

The incident occurred in Koelhat village of Panchandar Union, where Swadhin had been playing near his mother before slipping into the uncovered borehole.

 The disused deep tube-well, owned by a local resident named Taher, had reportedly been left exposed for a long time.

Fire Service personnel and police arrived shortly after the accident, but were unable to begin the rescue immediately due to the lack of heavy machinery. An excavator reached the village at around 5pm, allowing rescuers to finally commence digging in an attempt to reach the toddler from the side.

Assistant Director of Rajshahi Fire Service, Didarul Alam, said the situation remains extremely delicate.

“We believe the child is still alive. We are continuing to supply oxygen into the pipe, and our teams are working with all possible care,” he said.

A specialised rescue unit from Chapainawabganj later joined the operation, equipped with additional tools and sensors to detect movement or sound inside the pipe.

Tanore Police Station OC Shahinuzzaman said rescuers have been encouraged by signs of life.

“The child responded to calls earlier, which gives us some hope. But it is a very challenging operation. The soil is unstable and the borehole is extremely narrow. We are trying everything we can to save him,” he said.

Throughout the night, villagers kept vigil at the site, praying together and comforting the child’s distraught parents. 

Local volunteers assisted rescue workers by clearing soil, carrying equipment and keeping the area illuminated.

As morning approached, emergency teams continued digging carefully to avoid causing the collapsed soil to fall further into the borehole.

Officials say the rescue may take several more hours, depending on the soil condition and the team’s ability to safely reach the point where Swadhin is trapped.

The operation remains ongoing, with the entire village waiting anxiously for any sign of progress.