Punjab: Four-year-old boy rescued after falling into borewell in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur (Punjab) (PTI): A four-year-old boy who fell into a newly dug borewell while playing near his home in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district was rescued safely after an intense, nine-hour operation involving multiple rescue agencies and local volunteers, officials said.
The incident occurred on Friday night at Chak Samana village, located near Bhikhowal along the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road.
The boy, identified as Gurkaran Singh, was trapped inside the borewell at a depth of around 20 to 30 feet, officials said.
Rescue teams pulled him out around 12.40 am and immediately shifted him to a hospital for medical examination and treatment.
Upon being rescued, an NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) personnel carried him in his arms. Though the boy's face was covered in soil, he appeared stable.
The child's family and villagers hugged the NDRF personnel and other rescuers profusely, thanking them for their efforts in the entire rescue operation.
Deputy Commandant NDRF Pankaj Sharma told PTI Videos that the child's condition was stable. He noted that the rescue operation was challenging because of the loose soil that kept collapsing. "Our rescuers put in a commendable effort throughout the entire rescue operation," he stated.
Officials said the operation was a collaborative effort involving teams from the NDRF, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Punjab Police, district administration officials, fire brigade personnel, and local volunteers.
Punjab minister Ravjot Singh and AAP MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal remained present at the site throughout the rescue operation and monitored the efforts.
Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain said the administration swung into action immediately after receiving information about the incident around 4 pm.
She said the child had slipped into an open borewell adjoining the family's house.
According to officials, the borewell had recently been made operational, and the work to fill gravel and soil around it was still pending.
Jain said rescue teams initially lowered a camera and oxygen pipe into the borewell to monitor the child's condition and ensure oxygen supply.
"The child's movements were visible in the footage initially, which helped rescuers assess the situation," she said.
Officials said loose soil later fell inside the borewell, making camera monitoring difficult and adding to the complexity of the operation.
The deputy commissioner said rescuers dug a parallel pit up to a depth of around 25 to 30 feet before creating a narrow tunnel to reach the child safely.
Officials said that heavy machinery, including earth-moving equipment, was arranged by the administration and local villagers.
They described the soil as sandy in nature, which posed a challenge as it repeatedly collapsed. Care was taken to use the machinery cautiously, ensuring that the soil would not fall on the child and jeopardise his safety.
Jain said more than 40 NDRF personnel participated in the rescue effort.
She thanked the NDRF, SDRF, Punjab Police, civil administration officials, medical teams, volunteers and locals for their coordinated efforts and commitment in ensuring the child's safe rescue.
Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Malik commended the rescue teams, stating that their dedication and teamwork were vital in saving the child's life.
Earlier during the operation, the administration had also called the child's mother to the site and asked her to speak to him so that he could hear a familiar voice and remain calm.
Oxygen was supplied to him through a pipe into the borewell.
Minister Ravjot Singh said medical and emergency teams had remained on standby throughout the operation to provide immediate treatment to the child after rescue.
MP Chabbewal described it as a highly sensitive and challenging rescue mission and said continuous efforts by all agencies helped make the operation successful.
Large numbers of locals had gathered near the site as rescue teams continued operations through the night.
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Akash Singh says signature celebration fuels motivation, reinforces dominance
Lucknow (PTI): Pacer Akash Singh caught the eye with his unique celebration during Lucknow Super Giants' win over Chennai Super Kings, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket after a wicket, a gesture he said was aimed at "motivating" himself and "asserting dominance" over batters.
The left-arm pacer pulled out a scrappy piece of paper after each of the three wickets he took in LSG seven-wicket win over CSK, with the message reading: "Akki on fire -- Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket.
The 24-year-old, who began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals and was part of Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning campaign in 2023 before moving to Lucknow Super Giants, registered his best IPL figures with 3 for 26 on Friday.
"'Akki knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket', right?" Akash said when asked about the message on the piece of paper, adding that it serves as a source of motivation and helps him focus on dominating batters and delivering stronger performances for the team.
"Different things motivate different people. Some days I show the paper, some days I don't, but it reflects my mindset on that particular day. When you carry a piece of paper with something written on it, you manifest things and the most important part is when those manifestations actually materialise," he added.
Akash, who hails from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, said the strong backing from the Lucknow Super Giants support staff over the last two years had played a huge role in his growth as a cricketer.
"I've been with LSG for two years and the most important thing has been the backing from the coaches, even when I'm not in the playing XI. This year we have Bharat Arun sir, last year Zaheer sir was there...Tom Moody. The way they guide us, prepare us and keep us ready for opportunities is very important when there are 25 players in the squad," he said.
"When you are not playing, you naturally seek backing and every player wants to make the most of the opportunities he gets. The support from the captain also matters a lot and with Rishabh bhaiya backing you, the confidence grows and you are able to perform better," Akash said, referring to Rishabh Pant.
Akash said Pant had asked him to trust his strengths ahead of the clash against CSK.
"He told me that the new ball is my strength and that I can swing it both ways. So I just tried to make the best use of my skills. The wicket also had good bounce, so I focused on using the bouncer effectively,” added Akash.
On his success against CSK, Akash said his experience of playing in the IPL since 2020, including a stint with CSK, helped him understand the opposition batters better, while backing his own strengths with the ball also played a key role in his impressive spell.
"Obviously, when you play in the IPL and have shared the dressing room with some players, you understand their strengths and weaknesses. My focus was first to back my own strengths, then exploit their weaknesses and also make the best use of what the wicket was offering," Akash said.
Akash said he had sensed over the last two-three games that an opportunity could come his way after being repeatedly told to "be ready", though he admitted he was unfortunate not to get a chance earlier.
"Two days before the match, during practice, I was told to be ready," he said.
Clarifying that he had not been carrying the piece of paper in anticipation, Akash said he often notes down thoughts that could help improve his game..
"Whenever I’m alone or about to sleep, any thought that comes to my mind which can help my cricket, I write it down. The other night I got this thought and jotted it down on paper," he added.
