Karnataka   

He remained unruffled throughout

Navanath Kamble with his mother Sugulabai at the Government General Hospital in Gulabrga on Wednesday.

GULBARGA: “It was pitch dark inside, but I was not scared. My only worry was when I would get out of it.”

This was what Navanath Kamble, who spent more than 10 hours in an abandoned borewell at an agricultural field at Bhusnur village in Aland taluk of Gulbarga district, said.

Speaking from his hospital bed in the emergency ward of the Government General Hospital here, Navanath flanked by his father Kashappa and mother Sugulabai, told The Hindu that he drank water, supplied through a pipe, once and ate four biscuits that were tied to a rope and lowered during his ordeal.

Ms. Sugulabai said that although the family, consisting of seven children, lived in abject poverty, they gave special treatment to Navanath, who was their only. “We never allowed Navanath to go hungry.” Navanath’s family does not own land in Devantigi village and its members work as farmhands. Explaining the chain of events on Tuesday, Navanath said as usual he accompanied his parents to the agricultural field near Bhusnur and after some time he went to answer nature’s call along with his friend Rakesh.

“While returning, I stepped on a cloth used to cover the borewell and slipped into it. Initially I was a bit worried, but after I heard the voice of my mother and father from above, I knew that I would be rescued,” he said.

“I did not lose heart as my parents and other relatives were talking to me and assuring me that I would be brought up,” Navanath said.

The boy said that just before he was rescued, he felt drowsy, and fearing that he would further go down, caught hold of the two ropes suspended from above and followed the instructions carefully so that I would remain at the same place even if I fell asleep.”

Navanath’s rescue was possible due to the quick response of officials of the district administration.

They handled the emergency well despite the minimum resources and expertise at their command.

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