A two-year-old boy, Sajid, who fell into an abandoned deep well in Tanore upazila, Rajshahi, has not survived the 32-hour ordeal, as the Fire Service mounted a painstaking operation to hopefully rescue him. He was retrieved in a lifeless state around 9pm on Thursday, and the hope was that doctors at the nearest hospital could revive him.
Although Sajid was immediately taken to the Tanore Upazila Health Complex for medical examination, doctors there declared him dead.
Lt. Colonel Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director of Operations at the Fire Service and Civil Defence, said that Sajid was found unconscious upon rescue, prompting his transfer to the hospital for urgent medical care. Despite efforts to revive him, doctors confirmed his death after thorough examination.
It all started around 1:00 pm on Wednesday when Sajid fell approximately 30–35 feet into the open mouth of a well in Koelhat village while walking behind his mother, Runa Khatun, who was holding his elder sibling. Rescue operations began at 1:45 pm after locals alerted the Fire Service.
Sajid’s mother described the frightening moment: “Suddenly, Sajid called out ‘Ma, Ma.’ When I turned, I saw him fall into a hole covered with straw. He slipped further down before anyone could reach him.”
Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night and following day, carefully excavating the well and supplying oxygen to keep the child alive. Authorities and locals monitored the operation, which concluded successfully late Thursday evening.
The boy is now receiving medical care, and officials said his condition will be closely observed.