Fix it: Uncovered manholes waiting to swallow locals
Problem has claimed life of a child, several others have been injured
An uncovered manhole in the city. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
Taking a stroll through Peshawar can turn into a perilous exercise as open manholes lie in wait to swallow unsuspecting pedestrians whole.
Residents have expressed concern over the open manholes and requested the government to fix the problem in the city and its districts. They believe it poses a threat to their lives, particularly during the night when visibility is low.
The issue escalated when a six-year-old child, identified as Rehana, fell into an open manhole located in front of the mayor’s office last month. She was left critically injured and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Similarly, in December 2015, a four-year-old child died after falling into an uncovered manhole. The child’s body was found in a drainage pipe.
The city’s roads and footpaths are lined with uncovered manholes, proving hazardous for locals, especially children. Many open manholes have been spotted on GT Road, University Road, Arbab Road, Ring Road and Androon Shehr. Speaking to The Express Tribune, residents, social activists and other concerned individuals have raised their voice over the matter.
Qaiser Khan, a resident of Arbab Road, is witness to people falling into uncovered manholes located on the road’s main stop where hundreds of commuters, including children, used to wait for the bus.
“The manhole is constructed right on the roadside where vehicles have also fallen in, particularly during the rain,” said Qaiser Khan. He added these manholes have been left uncovered for two years and authorities have not bothered to fix the problem.
Forty-year-old Abdul Samad, belonging to University Town, believes the government should immediately cover manholes on roads and footpaths as pedestrians suffer on a regular basis, always fearing for their lives.
He warned if the government did not fix the problem, they will be forced to take matters into their own hands. “We will start a #Fixit campaign like the one Alamgir launched in Karachi,” he said.
Social activist Alamgir recently started a campaign called ‘Fix it’ in Karachi. In order to draw the attention of the Sindh government, he, along with his team, painted Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah’s face around uncovered manholes.
Muhammad Rafiq, a social activist in Peshawar, said the cost to cover open manholes was lesser in degree as compared to the lives lost in the incidents. He has offered to help the government cover manholes on behalf of his organisation. “Concerned authorities should fix the problem. My team is willing to volunteer support to the government,” he said.
Water and Sanitation Services (WSSP) Peshawar Spokesperson Taimur Shah has a different story to tell. He claims almost all the manholes in the city are covered; however, the maintenance of these manholes is the responsibility of WSSP. “Some of those uncovered manholes are used by PTCL and Sui gas for their operations,” explained Shah. He protested that some of the steel covers of such manholes were stolen by drug addicts, especially in Androon Shehr. “WSSP has directed the department concerned to fix any uncovered manholes, if reported, within 12 hours,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2016.
Taking a stroll through Peshawar can turn into a perilous exercise as open manholes lie in wait to swallow unsuspecting pedestrians whole.
Residents have expressed concern over the open manholes and requested the government to fix the problem in the city and its districts. They believe it poses a threat to their lives, particularly during the night when visibility is low.
The issue escalated when a six-year-old child, identified as Rehana, fell into an open manhole located in front of the mayor’s office last month. She was left critically injured and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Similarly, in December 2015, a four-year-old child died after falling into an uncovered manhole. The child’s body was found in a drainage pipe.
The city’s roads and footpaths are lined with uncovered manholes, proving hazardous for locals, especially children. Many open manholes have been spotted on GT Road, University Road, Arbab Road, Ring Road and Androon Shehr. Speaking to The Express Tribune, residents, social activists and other concerned individuals have raised their voice over the matter.
Qaiser Khan, a resident of Arbab Road, is witness to people falling into uncovered manholes located on the road’s main stop where hundreds of commuters, including children, used to wait for the bus.
“The manhole is constructed right on the roadside where vehicles have also fallen in, particularly during the rain,” said Qaiser Khan. He added these manholes have been left uncovered for two years and authorities have not bothered to fix the problem.
Forty-year-old Abdul Samad, belonging to University Town, believes the government should immediately cover manholes on roads and footpaths as pedestrians suffer on a regular basis, always fearing for their lives.
He warned if the government did not fix the problem, they will be forced to take matters into their own hands. “We will start a #Fixit campaign like the one Alamgir launched in Karachi,” he said.
Social activist Alamgir recently started a campaign called ‘Fix it’ in Karachi. In order to draw the attention of the Sindh government, he, along with his team, painted Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah’s face around uncovered manholes.
Muhammad Rafiq, a social activist in Peshawar, said the cost to cover open manholes was lesser in degree as compared to the lives lost in the incidents. He has offered to help the government cover manholes on behalf of his organisation. “Concerned authorities should fix the problem. My team is willing to volunteer support to the government,” he said.
Water and Sanitation Services (WSSP) Peshawar Spokesperson Taimur Shah has a different story to tell. He claims almost all the manholes in the city are covered; however, the maintenance of these manholes is the responsibility of WSSP. “Some of those uncovered manholes are used by PTCL and Sui gas for their operations,” explained Shah. He protested that some of the steel covers of such manholes were stolen by drug addicts, especially in Androon Shehr. “WSSP has directed the department concerned to fix any uncovered manholes, if reported, within 12 hours,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2016.