2-year-old Sajid rescued from deep tube-well shaft in Rajshahi after 32 hours
The child's condition is unknown as responders have rushed him to the Tanore Upazila Health Complex.
Two-year-old Sajid, who fell into an abandoned deep tube-well shaft in Rajshahi's Tanore upazila on Wednesday afternoon, has finally been rescued after a long 32 hours, Fire Service and Civil Defence confirmed.
"Sajid was pulled out of the hole around 9:15pm following relentless efforts by the firefighters since yesterday," Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the reporters tonight (11 December).
"The child was found after rescuers excavated up to 45 feet," he added.
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However, the child's condition remained unknown as responders rushed him to the Tanore Upazila Health Complex.
Doctors are currently conducting examinations, reports our correspondent.
Earlier in the evening, the Fire Service director had said the rescue operation to locate Sajid would continue "until he is found dead or alive."
"Although rescuers have excavated up to 45 feet, no trace of the child has been found. The shaft is narrow and made of soil, making a direct rescue through the original pit impossible. As a result, a parallel tunnel is being dug to attempt to reach the child," he told the media.
Tajul Islam further said, "Every 10 feet, we are digging additional segments to identify the child's position. Excavators are being used to remove soil and maintain ground balance so that loose earth does not collapse into the operation site."
In the afternoon, the Fire Service director said a pipe fitted with a vision camera was lowered into the hole, but detected no sign of Sajid up to 42 feet.
Md Manjil Haque, deputy director of the Rajshahi division Fire Service, said extensive digging inside the tube well shaft also failed to locate the boy.
"A pipe later inserted into the shaft could not descend past a certain point, suggesting an obstruction. To identify the blockage, rescuers plan to use a search vision light after clearing soil around the base with the help of an excavator," he added.
According to Fire Service assistant director Didarul Alam, the abandoned tube well is estimated to be between 150 and 200 feet deep, and the child could be trapped anywhere along that depth.
The incident occurred around 1pm on Wednesday (10 December) when Sajid accidentally fell into the unused deep tube well while accompanying his mother near a field close to their home. Locals initially attempted a rescue but failed and alerted the Fire Service.
Within an hour, the local firefighting team reached the spot and began ventilation efforts. Additional units from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj later joined the operation. Rescuers first used a charge-vision camera to locate the child but found no trace within the first 35 feet.
This prompted overnight excavation beside the well to begin creating a horizontal tunnel, which continued into Wednesday.
Officials from the Fire Service, local administration, and medical teams have been monitoring the operation, while hundreds of anxious residents gathered at the site, praying for the safe recovery of little Sajid.
