Rescuers used heavy equipment to reach the child

Army engineers in northern India have rescued a two-year-old girl who spent 27 hours trapped in a deep well.

The child, named only as Vandana, was playing outside her house when she fell more than 40ft (12 metres) down a man-made well in Tehra, Uttar Pradesh.

The army excavated earth parallel to the well in order to tunnel through to the child, who had been heard crying earlier in the day.

Indian TV showed live pictures of crowds celebrating at the scene.

Hundreds of locals had gathered to watch the rescue operation, with many of them performing prayers for the girl's safety.

Precarious situation

Oxygen was pumped to the young girl during the rescue operation.

Local people have been performing prayers for the trapped girl

Army rescue experts sent down glucose, water and biscuits.

The parents of the girl were also able to communicate with her.

The rescue effort had to proceed slowly amid fears that the excavation work could cause the well to collapse.

Children in rural India frequently fall down wells that have been left carelessly uncovered.

Earlier this year, a young boy was rescued from a deep well in the southern state of Karnataka.





