The district administration might soon cave in to the strident demand from several quarters to stop rescue operations to retrieve six-year-old Timmanna Hatti from the defunct borewell in his father’s sugarcane field in Sulikere village, Badami taluk.
The district administration is being pressured not just by the father of the boy, Hanumanttappa Hatti, but also by the village residents. Residents gathered at the gram panchayat office on Friday and demanded an immediate stop to the work. They said they would stage a dharna at the digging site if their demand was not met. Deputy Commissioner P.A. Meghannavar told presspersons the district administration would prepare a detailed report on the status of the work and the demand raised by the residents, and submit it to the government.
Though experts from the Hatti Gold Mines and the National Disaster Response Force continued with the digging on the sixth day reaching a depth of 80 feet, they are now fearful that the mud wall may collapse under its own weight as the soil is weak.
Their apprehensions may also make the district administration re-think on whether to continue the operation.
The government is likely to meet the State Advocate-General to get a legal opinion before taking a final call.
On Friday evening, Mr. Meghannavar said all rescue operations have been put on hold till the government takes a decision on Saturday.
Timmanna’s family has reportedly decided to perform the last rites of the boy at the borewell site.
(The Hindu)
