The operation to rescue a two-year-old boy, who fell into a borewell while playing in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district, reached the final stage on Thursday, said officials here.

The authorities, family and people heaved a sigh of relief on hearing the toddler’s cries on the camera after over 15-hour rescue operation. The team has dug a parallel pit to the borewell.

The staff confirmed that they had reached the level where the baby was stuck and needed to drill a hole horizontally to reach the toddler. The camera has also recorded the movements of the toddler’s legs.

An ambulance is stationed at the spot to carry the child to the hospital and his mother was also waiting inside the ambulance. The rescue operation was delayed as a boulder surfaced while digging a parallel hole to the borewell, said authorities.