Punjab CM orders closure of all open borewells across state after death of toddler
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday asked the state's disaster management group to finalise a set of standard operating procedures for manmade disasters after a two-year-old child could not rescued alive from a 150-foot-deep borewell in Sangrur district.
Singh sought reports from all deputy commissioners on all existing open borewells in the state and directed them to take immediate corrective action to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future, an official release said here.
"Have directed all DCs to ensure that no such open borewell exists in any of the districts & have asked them to submit a report within 24 hours. You can call on our helpline number 0172-2740397 if you have information about any such open borewells in your area," the chief minister tweeted.
Headed by the chief secretary, the state disaster management group, which had been constituted to tackle natural calamities, has also been asked to study inadequacies, if any, in the relief operations, and give recommendations to ensure better and quicker operations in the future in case of any such or similar manmade disasters, the release said.
Fatehvir Singh, who had turned two on Monday, was stuck in the borewell at a depth of 125 feet.
The only child of his parents, Fatehvir Singh fell into the borewell, which is in a field, while playing at Bhagwanpura village in Sangrur around 4 pm on Thursday. The borewell was covered with a cloth and the boy accidentally stepped on it.
An official spokesman said on Tuesday that National Disaster Response Force personnel were able to tie a knot around the child's wrists in less than 10 hours of arrival, but the narrow diameter of the pipe caused the kid to get stuck.
He said earth moving machines had to be used to dig a pit to reduce the depth from where the operations were carried out.
The district administration had mobilised and initiated rescue operations within minutes of receiving information of the child falling into the abandoned borewell, the official said.
"All possible technical support was also provided by the district administration but it took 46 hours to dig a parallel pit and lay pipes against its wall to prevent it from caving in. But problems with the angle at which the pipe was going in further obstructed the operation, necessitating some horizontal digging also," he added.
The NDRF joined in and the Army were also immediately informed.
According to NDRF officials, who were in constant touch with Army authorities all through the operation, no physical harm was caused to the child during the extraction process.
"The Army did not have the skills or the equipment for such a tricky operation, for which the NDRF was best equipped," the spokesperson said.
A massive rescue operation was launched to bring the child out safely. Officials managed to supply oxygen but no food or water could be provided to him.
Rescue workers finally pulled out the toddler at 4.45 am on Tuesday. An ambulance, with doctors and a life-support ventilator on board rushed him to the PGIMER, Chandigarh, where an autopsy suggested that he died a few days back.
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Vijay secures majority support, set to stake claim to form Tamil Nadu govt
Chennai: After four days of political uncertainty and intense negotiations in Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay is learnt to have secured the numbers required to form the government, sources said.
Supporters gathered outside Vijay’s residence in Chennai on Friday evening, raising slogans in support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam soon after reports emerged that the party had managed to secure majority support.
Sources said Vijay is expected to meet Tamil Nadu Governor R. V. Arlekar on Friday evening to stake claim to form the government. The meeting is likely to take place around 6 pm.
In its electoral debut in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, TVK won 108 out of the 234 seats, dealing a major blow to the 62-year political dominance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
However, Governor Arlekar had reportedly made it clear that the party would not be invited to form the government without proving a clear majority. Even after two rounds of discussions on Wednesday and Thursday, the Governor is learnt to have maintained his stand that letters of support from at least 118 MLAs must be submitted in the 234-member Assembly.
Apart from Vijay, TVK had the backing of 107 MLAs. Vijay had contested from Tiruchy (East) and Perambur constituencies and won both seats, meaning he would have to resign from one seat before taking oath. This increased the need for additional support.
Amid the political developments, five MLAs from the Congress party, which reportedly moved away from the DMK-led alliance, extended support to Vijay. Vijay also held discussions with leaders of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India.
The VCK, CPI(M) and CPI had so far been allies of the DMK. At the same time, political discussions intensified in the state over speculation that the DMK could even explore a post-poll understanding with its long-time rival AIADMK to prevent an alternative government from taking shape.
Reports had been circulating since Friday afternoon that the VCK and Left parties were likely to support Vijay. Sources later said that the VCK, CPI(M) and CPI agreed to extend the support of two MLAs each, helping TVK cross the required majority mark.
All eyes are now on the Governor’s next move and the official announcement regarding the formation of the new government in Tamil Nadu.
