A six-year-old girl, who was today rescued from a 400-feet borewell in a village in Tiruvannamalai district after a nine-hour battle, died in hospital.
Her condition was very critical when she was brought to the hospital and she died due to hypothermia (subnormal body temperature) and lack of oxygen supply, Dean-in-charge of Vellore Government Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sivakumar said.
"The child's body could not withstand the trauma," he said.
The child, Devi, accidentally fell into the 400-feet borewell in Pulavanpadi village when she came to the site at 7.45 AM along with her mother, a farm labourer.
About 30 FRSD personnel, with the aid of backhoe loaders dug a well like opening close to the borewell to take out the child, who was stuck at 20 feet.
The unconscious child was rescued with a specially procured 'arm like device' at 6.15 PM and rushed to Vellore hospital in an ambulance, accompanied by a team of doctors.
An expert team, including a paediatrician, anesthetist and a physician tried in vain to save the child.
"We did our very best and followed the protocol guidelines for such situations and tried to save the child. It is very unfortunate that she could not be saved," Dr Sivakumar said.
Meanwhile, villagers held a protest alleging that the child was a victim of criminal negligence of the farm owner, who had reportedly left the borewell uncovered and demanded stringent punishment for him.
District police did not disclose information related to action against the borewell owner.
