Karnataka: Six-year-old girl who fell into 400-ft deep borewell dies

In a tragic development, the body of Kaveri, a six year old girl who fell into a 400 feet deep borewell in Belgaum, Karnataka on April 22 was fished out early on Tuesday.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team made intense efforts at the spot in Athani taluk of Belagavi district where she fell into an open borewell on Saturday night.

Kaveri fell into the borewell while she was playing, and was stuck at a depth of around 20 feet and could reportedly be heard crying for help.

As part of its efforts, the NDRF team at the spot used drainage sucking machine to lift mud and rubble out of the borewell in order to get to the child.

According to reports, the owner of the land, Shankarapppa Hippargi, who has been accused of not closing the borewell, is absconding.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said strict action would be initiated against the land owner and borewell contractor for the incident.

"It is the responsibility of the landowner and borewell contractor to inform the gram panchayat about the borewell being open without covering or fencing it," he said in Bengaluru.