NAYAGARH/BERHAMPUR: In a dramatic rescue, Odisha Fire and Emergency Service personnel safely pulled out an 11-year-old boy stuck in a narrow rock crevice with a large python on Chorakhol hill under Odagaon police limits in Nayagarh district on Wednesday.
The delicate operation that lasted nearly six hours in a forest near Kanipada village involved extracting the boy successfully without disturbing the reptile to avoid triggering an attack.
The boy, Siba Pradhan, had accompanied his uncle to collect honey from the forest, situated around 3 km from the village, when he crawled headfirst into a tight rock cavity to retrieve a honeycomb. He got stuck and was unable to free himself.
His uncle tried to rescue him but to no avail. Subsequently, he alerted the villagers and emergency services. Fire service teams from Odagaon, Nayagarh and Bhubaneswar launched a coordinated rescue effort, using specialised equipment including hydraulic jacks to carefully lift the rocks without causing injury.
The location, nearly 250 feet above ground, made the operation particularly challenging. The officials maintained constant communication with the boy, monitoring his breathing and ensuring that he remained calm throughout the ordeal.
Fire Service DG Sudhanshu Sarangi rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operation which necessitated the boulder on top of the cave did not collapse. The second challenge was to complete the task before dusk because of the python in a nearby cave.
“Hydraulic jacks were used to hold the boulders on the side of the boy. Subsequently, the rock on top of the cave was removed and the boy was safely rescued. It was a technically challenging task but the rescue team remained composed and pulled it off,” he said.
After hours of careful effort, rescuers successfully extracted the child and rushed him to Odagaon community health centre. His condition was reported to be stable. The rescue drew a crowd of over 300 people, with anxious family members and villagers waiting and praying for the boy’s safety.
Praising the team’s bravery and coordination, Sarangi announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for the personnel involved in the operation.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi appreciated the Odisha Fire and Emergency Service personnel for successfully rescuing the minor boy. “The indomitable courage and professional expertise displayed by our rescue teams in such a challenging situation are truly commendable. Protecting and ensuring the welfare of every life in the state is of utmost importance for our government,” said Majhi in a post on X.
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also extended his wishes to the fire service personnel for the timely rescue.