Mon Dec 30 08:30:28 UTC 2024: ## Rajasthan Girl Trapped in Borewell for Eight Days; Rescue Efforts Continue
**Kotputli, Rajasthan –** A desperate race against time continues in Kotputli, Rajasthan, where three-year-old Chetna has been trapped in a 700-foot-deep borewell since December 23rd. Rescue efforts, now in their eighth day, are facing significant challenges as crews work to reach the child, currently trapped approximately 170 feet below the surface.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have dug a parallel tunnel, reaching within 1.5 feet of Chetna. However, progress is painstakingly slow due to extremely hard rock, with only 2-4 inches being drilled per hour. Rising temperatures and dust within the tunnel are adding to the difficulties, forcing rescuers to proceed cautiously.
Experts from Hindustan Zinc Limited and local construction professionals are assisting to ensure the tunnel’s accuracy and alignment with the borewell. The Air Force and Border Security Force (BSF) have also been involved in verifying the drilling direction. Despite these measures, officials remain tight-lipped about Chetna’s condition, with no updates provided in recent days. She has had no access to water since the incident.
District Collector Kalpana Agarwal described the operation as Rajasthan’s most challenging rescue yet. On December 28th, Chetna’s family and villagers criticized the administration for perceived negligence in the initial response. The rescue operation continues, with officials expressing confidence that they will reach Chetna soon, but the extreme hardness of the rock presents a major obstacle.
First Piper 