Race against time to rescue toddler stuck 100ft down well in India

Huge drilling equipment brought in to try and dig parallel to borehole where child is trapped

A major rescue operation is underway in India after a two-year-old boy fell into a deep, narrow well in a village in Tamil Nadu state.

Officials said the attempts to save toddler Sujith Wilson were entering the final stages early on Monday afternoon, nearly 65 hours after he went missing on Friday.

Sujith was out playing near his home when he fell into an abandoned borehole, a common hazard in rural India despite growing calls for strict punishment of those who leave such wells poorly covered.

The child initially became trapped at a depth of only around 30ft, but later slipped down to 100ft. The well is believed to go down as far as 550ft in total.

Officials have sent down a camera that recorded Sujith breathing, and on Monday said the boy had passed out but was believed to be still alive. A continuous supply of oxygen is being pumped down into the well.

Huge drilling equipment has been borrowed for the rescue from the Indian Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which is digging a parallel hole around 10ft from the existing borehole.

A first dig had to be abandoned after it hit a patch of dense rock. Rescuers hope to drill down 110ft and then send a rescue worker down the shaft to reach the boy.

Previous attempts to bring the Sujith out using a rope failed. Local media also reported that the boy’s mother, Kalairani, was stitching a cloth bag for rescuers to use to bring Sujith out of the well.

And a widely-shared video posted to social media shows Kalairani at the mouth of the borehole, calling out and telling him not to cry.

On Monday, prime minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter: “My prayers are with the young and brave Sujith Wilson ... Every effort is being made to ensure he is safe.”

The efforts to rescue Sujith have gripped the country as it observes the long weekend for Diwali festivities, with many sharing messages of support and sympathy for the family on social media.

Congress politician Sowmya Reddy said on social media: “While most of us are celebrating #Deepavali a 2 year old baby, 100ft deep in almost 3 days with no food and water. #prayforsujith.”

The Tamil actor Harish Kalyan wished his followers a happy Diwali before adding: “Have a safe one. Lets take a min to pray for #Sujith.”

While veteran actor and politician Ramanathan Sarathkumar wrote that “the entire state is praying for rescue of #Sujith”.