View source for 2006 borewell rescue of Prince Kumar

{{Short description|2006 Indian rescue of child from borewell}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox event
| title = 2006 borewell rescue of Prince
| image = 
| caption = 
| date = {{start and end dates|2006|7|21|2006|7|23}}
| type = 
| coord = {{coord|30.2205865|76.8387818|display=title}}
| cause = Prince Kumar falling into uncovered borewell
| outcome = 50-hour operation by [[Indian Army]], resulting in Prince Kumar's safe rescue
| location = Haldaheri, [[Kurukshetra district]], [[Haryana]], India
}}
In July 2006, '''Prince Kumar''', a five-year-old boy, fell into a {{convert|60|ft|m}} deep, narrow borewell in the village of Haldaheri, [[Kurukshetra district]], [[Haryana]].<ref name="BBCRescue">{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5207290.stm |title=Child rescued from well in India |date=2006-07-23 |website=BBC News |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref> The rescue effort, which lasted nearly 50 hours, garnered massive national media attention and involved the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="OutlookForgotten">{{Cite web |first=Durga |last=Prasad Panda |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/india-news-forgotten-newsmakers-rescued-from-60-feet-borewell-by-armymen-prince-kumar-wants-to-be-a-soldier-news-301925 |title=Forgotten Newsmakers: Rescued From 60-feet Borewell By Armymen, Prince Kumar Wants To Be A Soldier |date=17 July 2019 |website=Outlook India |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

==Incident==
On 21 July 2006, Prince Kumar fell into an abandoned, uncovered borewell while playing.<ref name="TOIEndCharmed">{{Cite news |first=Avijit |last=Ghosh |date=2013-11-27 |title=For Prince, the end of a charmed life |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/for-prince-the-end-of-a-charmed-life/articleshow/26442574.cms |access-date=2026-04-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Villagers soon heard his cries from inside the well and discovered that he had fallen inside.<ref name="BBCRescue" />

==Rescue operation==
The shaft was approximately {{convert|1|ft|m}} wide, making it impossible for an adult to descend and retrieve him.<ref name="BBCRescue" />

Firefighters from Mumbai had been called to help with the rescue.<ref name="BBCRescue" /> After initial rescue attempts failed, the [[Indian Army]] was called to lead the rescue mission. As the boy tried to wriggle out by himself, he would slide down further by 10 feet, ultimately reaching the bottom of the borewell. There was also a concern that the borewell would collapse onto the boy. A closed-circuit camera was also lowered into the shaft to monitor his condition and well-being.<ref name="TOIVidyarthi">{{Cite news |first=Shishir |last=Arya |date=2025-10-02 |title=Maj Gen Vidyarthi recalls Prince borewell rescue, other career highlights on retirement |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/maj-gen-vidyarthi-recalls-prince-borewell-rescue-other-career-highlights-on-retirement/articleshow/124264942.cms |access-date=2026-04-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> During the operation, oxygen was pumped into the well, and food, milk and chocolates were lowered to the boy using a rope.<ref name="BBCRescue" />

Engineers and soldiers used heavy machinery to dig a parallel pit adjacent to the borewell.<ref name="BBCRescue" /> They were helped by a dry well which was parallel to the borewell, which they then dug deeper.<ref name="TOIVidyarthi" /> Once the parallel shaft reached the necessary depth, rescuers hand-dug a horizontal tunnel to connect the two pits.<ref name="OutlookForgotten" />

Prince was successfully pulled out of the well on 23 July 2006 to widespread celebration across India.<ref name="BBCRescue" /> While the Army claims that a young officer named Captain Pankaj Upadhyay finally pulled Prince out,<ref name="TOIVidyarthi" /> some reports suggest that he refused to come out until his uncle was sent down to retrieve him.<ref name="OutlookForgotten" />

==Aftermath and legacy==
The event was one of the first of its kind to be broadcast live on 24-hour news channels in India, leading to a "media circus" and nationwide prayers. Thousands sent in their wishes and prayers to the news channels. Following his rescue, the state government of Haryana announced that it would cover the costs of Prince's education and well-being.<ref name="TOIEndCharmed" />

Inspired by the soldiers who saved him, Prince Kumar expressed a desire in later years to join the Indian Army.<ref name="OutlookForgotten" /> The incident also prompted discussions regarding the safety of abandoned borewells in rural India.<ref name="BBCRescue" />

==See also==
* [[Child borewell deaths in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:July 2006 in India]]
[[Category:Well-related accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:Indian children]]