Tirunelveli youth develops device to rescue children trapped in borewells

According to 25-year-old engineer S Bagavathi Pavithran, a resident of Vannarpettai, it is a semi-automatic device, which has been designed with gear mechanism.

The cylindrical device could rotate 270 degrees to the maximum into any borewell to promptly locate any victim. The device, weighing about 20 kg, is controlled by chain while letting into borewell. Highlighting the other key functions of the device, Pavithran said it could also move clockwise and anti-clockwise at the bottom of the borewell to keep track of leg movement.

Further, referring to its features, he said the device primarily had built-in LED light with a capacity of 12 volts, camera and oxygen supply tube. To ensure supply of oxygen to any victim from outside borewell, 20 holes were put up on the tube.

Besides, the device is also equipped with a pump so as to create vacuum inside the borewell. More importantly, Pavithran credited his father, who’s involved in lathe operations, for creating a prototype model of the borewell child rescuer during 2003 with the aid of hydraulic machine. But, much to the delight, the prototype model took shape to perfection at last, the jubilantPavithran said.