The instruction was sent on Whatsapp to BDOs. Tahsildars, municipal commissioners, sub collectors, executive officers of town panchayats and the Vellore corporation commissioner on October 26 to ensure that no dangerous open bore wells, recharge pits, recharge wells, open wells posing a threat to children be closed immediately and a report submitted to him.

This was followed by a second message on Tuesday in which he highlighted adding that closure of such wells would be our tribute to Sujith. Based on the orders, Vellore corporation officials closed 12 open bores in Vellore town. 

These bores were open for years and it was pure luck that no untoward incident occurred till now, locals averred. The collector’s directive was based on a report he received from the public on whatsapp on Sunday which stated that an open borewell existed in Kalmelkuppam village in Wallajahpet panchayat union. The bore was immediately sealed and a pix uploaded on social media.

Meanwhile officials closed 5 open bores in Jolorpet and 2 in Tirupatthur while at Kikpennathur in neighbouring Tiruvannamalai district police used an auto mounted PA system to call on the public to highlight and close open bores wherever they were found. Officials closed bores as soon as they spotted one.