Anshuchoudhary28 at 08:15, 21 April 2026

2026-04-21T08:15:29Z

New page

In India, dozens of children have died by falling into abandoned [[Tube well|borewells]], which are generally narrow and deep. Currently there are 27 million borewells in India, with most of them in rural areas.<ref name="bw1">{{cite news |title=Killer borewells: Recent cases of children falling into deadly holes |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/killer-borewells-recent-cases-of-children-falling-into-deadly-holes/articleshow/93212938.cms?from=mdr |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=The Economic Times |date=29 July 2022}}</ref> After borewell dries up, its cover—made of cast iron—is removed with the [[Plastic pipework|PVC pipe]] being pulled out, exposing the hole.<ref name="bw3">{{cite news |last1=Sirur |first1=Simrin |title=Why borewell deaths are so frequent and rescue measures fall short most of the time |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/why-borewell-deaths-are-so-frequent-and-rescue-measures-fall-short-most-of-the-time/313215/ |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=ThePrint |date=30 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="bw2">{{cite news |title=Explained: Why do children in India get trapped in borewells so often and why are rescue missions difficult? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/explained-why-do-children-in-india-get-trapped-in-borewells-so-often-and-why-are-rescue-missions-difficult-10855161.html |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=Firstpost |date=30 June 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref>

Indian records show that between 2009 and 2019, there were roughly 40 child deaths in borewells.<ref name="bw6">{{cite news |title=Get tougher laws to stop borewell deaths |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/editorials/2024/Dec/22/get-tougher-laws-to-stop-borewell-deaths |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=22 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Raina |first=Sunil Kumar |date=October 2022 |title=What's New in Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock – Camel, Cattle, Borewell, or Sewer Injuries: Time for Public Health Contextualization of Injury Prevention |journal=Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock |language=en |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=155–156 |doi=10.4103/jets.jets_147_22 |pmid=36643767 |pmc=9838645 |doi-access=free |issn=0974-2700}}</ref> as many go unrecorded with the country having 27 million borewells.<ref name="bw4">{{cite news |title=From Prince in 2006 to Shrishti in 2023: 'Unaddressed' borewell incidents continue to haunt India |url=https://theprint.in/india/from-prince-in-2006-to-shrishti-in-2023-unaddressed-borewell-incidents-continue-to-haunt-india/1619524/ |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=ThePrint |date=8 June 2023}}</ref> Borewell safety can be improved by filling the abandoned well with sand or clay.<ref name="bw7">{{cite news |title=Deep traps: On borewell deaths |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/deep-traps/article29826125.ece |access-date=29 December 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=29 October 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name="bw5">{{cite news |title=Why Do Open Borewells Continue To Take Lives Of Innocent Kids In India? Who Is Responsible? |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/why-do-open-borewells-continue-to-take-lives-of-innocent-kids-in-india-who-is-responsible-570492.html |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=Indiatimes |date=25 May 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Death of Sujith Wilson]]
* [[2006 borewell rescue of Prince]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Accidental child deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in India]]
[[Category:Indian children]]
[[Category:Well-related accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:Causes of death specific to children]]

{{India-stub}}

Child borewell deaths in India - Revision history

Anshuchoudhary28 at 08:15, 21 April 2026