Bhubaneswar: After a daunting rescue operation of around seven hours, the two-day-old baby girl who was allegedly thrown into an abandoned open bore-well at Laripali near Rengali in Sambalpur district, was rescued alive by the Fire services personnel, ODRAF and local administration.
Soon after being rescued, the infant was given preliminary treatment by a team of doctors present there before she was shifted to VIMSAR in a special ambulance amid tight security.
The infant was thrown into the bore-well by an unidentified woman in the local forest at Laripali. Passersby heard the screaming of the baby from inside the bore-well. Later, they informed the Rengali fire station who rushed to the spot and launched rescue operation. Later, another team of the fire services department from Sambalpur and ODRAF joined the operation.
Local administration, police, doctors and other officials reached the spot and assisted in the rescue exercise.
Three JCB machines were engaged in the work which dug a pit parallel to the bore-well. As the baby was trapped about 20-25 feet inside the iron pipe, the pit was dug up to the same height.
Later, the pipe was cut with a hacksaw with absolute caution for the safe release of the trapped infant.
In the middle of the operation, Fire Services DG Sudhansu Sarangi sent a victim location camera from Bhubaneswar in a special chopper to the spot which helped the rescue team monitor the movement and position of the baby.
Sambalpur SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo ordered an inquiry into the incident. “Investigation will be initiated soon. But, the infant should be saved first,” he said.
Meanwhile, CM Naveen Patnaik extended congratulations to all who were part of the rescue work. He also thanked local administration, police, and medical team and lauded their coordinated efforts.
