Agra, Mar 26: Efforts are on to save Vandana - the two and a half year old girl, who fell into a 180-feet deep borewell at Tehra village in Agra on Tuesday evening. The Army, which joined the rescue operation early this morning, has succeeded in digging a parallel pit.

The child who is said to have been trapped at a depth of 45 feet is reportedly fine and a team of doctors are present at the site to provide medical help as soon as she is rescued. Reports from the site suggest that the Army is close to rescuing the girl.

Vandana is said to have fallen while she was playing near the borewell at around 6:00 pm yesterday.

Authorities sought the aid of the Army after efforts by local authorities failed. The rescuers have succeeded in sending oxygen cylinders into the borewell and are now providing the girl with oxygen with the help of a tube.

Refreshments have also been sent to the girl, who is breathing and can be heard crying for food and help. She is said to be responding to the rescuers.

District Magistrate of Agra, Mukesh Kumar Meshram said, "We have been able to provide the child with glucose water and biscuits. She is conscious right now."

The Commissioner of Agra, Sitaram Meena expressed hope that the child will be pulled out to safety soon.

JCB machines were used for digging and extra care was being taken to avoid mud slinging in the pit.

There have been various instances of children falling into open pits in the recent past, due to the carelessness of civic authorities. In July 2006, five-year-old Prince, who fell into a 53 ft deep shaft in Haryana was rescued after over two days by the Army. Three more similar incidents had been reported from Madhya Pradesh earlier.