Child body who fell into open manhole in Karachi found

Rescue teams on Monday retrieved the body of the child who fell into an open manhole in Karachi on Sunday night.

Earlier, rescue workers had said that operations were halted because no government department had provided the heavy machinery needed for the search.

Perotest by area residents against the government failure also hampered rescue efforts.

The rescue workers said earlier excavation work had been carried out with machinery arranged privately, and divers had also searched the drain, but the child could not be found.

Residents said no government officials or administrative staff had visited the site since the previous night.

Since the accident, neither the Karachi mayor, the deputy commissioner for the East district, nor any elected representatives had arrived to assist at the scene.

Residentas said that machinery from the nearby BRT project had not been made available.

The child’s father, Nabeel, said he, his wife and their son had come to Nipa Shopping Mall from their home in Shah Faisal.

After shopping, his three-year-old son Ibrahim broke free and ran ahead.

The father said his motorcycle was parked near the uncovered manhole, and he saw the child fall into it with his own eyes. Ibrahim was his only child.

Area people said that although parking fees were collected, authorities had failed to place a cover on the drain.

They urged the Sindh governor, the chief minister and Karachi administrator Murtaza Wahab to treat the case as if the child were their own and ensure proper rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation expressed sorrow over the incident, but said the location of the tragedy did not fall under its jurisdiction.

A spokesperson said neither a sewerage line nor a corporation manhole existed at the site, adding that the maintenance, repair and cleaning of stormwater drains did not fall within the corporation’s mandate.

Speaking to the media, Ibrahim’s grandfather said the accident occurred due to negligence by the relevant authorities and held the nearby departmental store equally responsible.

“We called every office last night. Everyone answered the phone, listened to the issue, and then hung up,” he said.

He also criticised the Karachi mayor for being unreachable.

“If the search had started immediately at night, the outcome could have been different,” he added.

The grandfather expressed his frustration over the lack of attention and urged that efforts to locate his grandson continue so that the family can find some solace. He confirmed that the manhole did not have a cover, contributing to the tragic incident.

Tensions escalated when MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar arrived at the scene but was stopped by angry residents from leaving his vehicle. Protesters also pelted media vehicles with stones.

Addressing the situation from inside his car, Dr Sattar expressed deep sorrow over the incident and criticised the Sindh government and Karachi mayor for broken roads and uncovered drains, calling them “a clear reflection of poor governance.”

He added that many children have been victims of open manholes, yet authorities appear indifferent. Under the intense protest, he left the area without exiting his vehicle.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim’s family and residents staged a demonstration near the Nipa flyover over the lack of rescue machinery and support. Protesters blocked traffic by burning tyres and attempted to stop commuters, creating a tense situation in the area.

Traffic police confirmed that the road from Nipa flyover to Main University Road remains closed in both directions. Vehicles are being diverted via Nipa Chaurangi to Main Rashid Minhas Road and from Hasan Square toward inner residential areas.

In a tragic incident in Karachi, a child fell into an open manhole on NEPA, prompting immediate action from rescue teams. Authorities successfully recovered the child’s body after extensive efforts at the site.