Operation 'Karnataka Prince' fails, boy dies in borewell

Raichur, Apr 26 (UNI) The 56-hour operation to rescue eight-year-old Sandeep alive failed as the boy's decomposed body was retrieved from the 38-feet deep borewell this evening.

The body of Sandeep, who fell into an abandoned borewell while playing at Neermanvi village in this District of Karnataka on Wednesday, was retrieved after mining engineers from Hutti Gold Mines Limited dug a parallel hole to reach him.

A pall of gloom descended in the area as Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Prasad announced failure of the operation 'Karnataka Prince'. He said more than 100 personnel, including 50 experts from HGML, tried their best since the last three days but the boy could not be saved.

Mr Prasad said the body was in a highly decomposed state and it would take some time to remove it. The body would be sent for postmortem before handing over to the parents.

Continuous supply of oxygen was maintained during the operation but there was no sign of the boy's movement.

Tense situation prevailed for some time when villagers gheraoed District incharge, Minister Hanumanthappa Alkod, who arrived to supervise the operation.

The villagers were protesting against arrival of Mr Alkod after a gap of two days. However, the Minister claimed that he had been in constant touch with the Deputy Commissioner and was taking necessary steps.

UNI