Anna University engg team joins rescue operations at Manapparai

CHENNAI: A civil engineering team from Anna University has chipped in to save the two-yearold boy, Sujith Wilson, who got stuck in the deep borewell at Nadukattupatti in Tiruchy district since Friday evening.

As per the request from the Tamil Nadu government, the soil mechanic team under the Civil Engineering Wing rushed to Nadukattupatti near Manapparai on Saturday morning to study the soil for the possibility of digging another pit parallel to the abandoned borewell in which the toddler got stuck.

Director Palanivel, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management, Anna

University, told DT Next that the team comprising couple of researchers would conduct a soil check to find whether it is feasible to dig a second hole or tunnel. “The test includes soil nature and its type whether it is rocky or soft so that officials could decide which type of equipment can be used to dig the hole,” he added.

In addition, a senior official from the Geology Department said that the rescue process to save the child from the borewell is long and complicated.

He suggested that the best and safe way to rescue the child from the borewell is to dig another parallel hole and for that the soil experiment is vital to know its type. “If it is a farm, the soil will be soft and loose since water is being used regularly in the land, whereas non-agricultural land will be rocky.”

Once the soil is tested, the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) will take over and dig the pit according to soil type. “If the soil is soft, the NDRF team will use bulldozer and if it is rocky, heavy grilling machines will be put into work,” he said.

The official said a parallel hole would be dug and then a horizontal path is made to reach to the trapped object.

Meanwhile, Anna University sources said that various combinations of rescue robot design are being formulated by the researchers in the institution.

“The new devices will improve the rescue operations and a lot of other hassles will be avoided by the alternative technique,” a staff from the Mechanical Engineering Department of the institution said.

In addition, the existing approved devices, used to rescue trapped persons, are being tested to improvise its performance.

A senior official from the Geology Department at Anna University suggested that the best and safe way to rescue the child from the borewell is to dig another parallel hole and for that the soil experiment is vital to know its type