VIJAYAWADA: As incidents of children falling into borewells have become common, a debt-ridden mechanical contractor in Hindustan shipyard came up with an idea to create a device to rescue those kids who get trapped.
Meet the 40-year-old S Hemanth Raja, developer of the Borewell Rescue Saving Mechanical Equipment (BRSME) that uses simple tools such as a pulley, mechanical arms and foot pedal, and is even equipped with a camera and an LED light.
“After an 18-month-old girl died after falling into a 450-feet deep borewell at Ikkareddygudem village in Telangana’s Rangareddy district in 2017, I gave some serious thought in finding a solution to rescue such victims. Then, I approached NDRF officials and observed their rescue operations; I learnt some techniques from the internet too to build the BRSME and spent Rs 6 lakh on its development,” Hemanth Raja said, adding that he has patented the equipment.
Explaining its functioning, he said: “With the help of the pulley system, rescue teams will be able to lift babies who accidentally fall into open borewells. Oxygen can also be sent through assistive devices. When the infant is found, the pulley grabs him with the help of mechanical arms. With the help of another device, he can be saved from falling while being pulled upwards.”
Hemanth Raja’s team has already shaped a prototype and conducted experiments to make it ready for use.
Impressed with the demonstration, Fire Department Director General K Satyanarayana said the equipment will be demonstrated in front of NDRF officials. “This equipment is advanced when compared to the one NDRF has. Parallel digging in such incidents take so much of time,” he said.