Punjab: 3.5-Year-Old Falls into Borewell in Hoshiarpur; Child Alive, Rescue Operation Underway with Multi-Agency Teams

May 15, 2026

Hoshiarpur, Punjab: A 3.5-year-old child, identified as Gurkaran Singh alias Vansh, fell into a borewell while playing in Chak Samana village on Friday around 4:00 PM. The incident triggered an extensive rescue operation involving multiple government and emergency response agencies.

According to sources, the child is believed to be trapped at a depth ranging between 10 to 90 feet. However, District Commissioner Ashika Jain stated that the exact location may be between 10 to 20 feet. Officials confirmed that movement of the child has been detected through a camera placed inside the borewell, indicating that he is alive and responding.

Rescue Operation Intensified

The administration has deployed four JCB machines to dig a parallel pit alongside the borewell to safely extract the child. Lighting arrangements have also been installed for night operations. Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, fire brigade, and medical departments are present at the site.

Senior officials including AAP MP Dr. Rajkumar Chabbewal, Minister Ravjot Singh, and SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik visited the location to supervise rescue efforts. A local social service group, Baba Deep Singh Sewa Dal, is also assisting the operation.

How the Incident Happened

As per family accounts, the borewell had been drilled around 15 days earlier, and a 15-inch pipe had been installed. However, the surrounding pit was not fully refilled. While playing near the area, the child slipped into the uncovered space beside the pipe rather than falling directly into the borewell shaft.

The child’s mother said that she heard him cry out “Catch me!” as he fell, but the family was unable to reach him in time. His elder sibling alerted the family immediately after witnessing the incident.

Officials’ Statement

Police officials stated that the rescue operation is ongoing and progressing continuously. They confirmed that the child has been visually located using a camera and appears to be moving inside the borewell. Authorities expressed hope that the child may be rescued within a few hours, depending on conditions.