Two minor brothers drown in uncovered nullah

The brothers aged eight and six were playing near their home in Keamari

KARACHI: Two brothers drowned in a nullah while playing near their house in the Keamari neighbourhood on Friday.

Eight-year-old Shakir and his six-year-old brother Zakir, along with their five-year-old cousin Imran, left their home located in Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad in Keamari within the limits of Jackson police station and did not return.

"They left home in the morning saying that they are going to play but they did not return," narrated their father, Naimat Khan, who is a photographer by profession.



The family became aware of the incident when Imran returned and informed them about it. "He [Imran] did not tell us what happened properly. He just told me that they [the deceased brothers] were playing in the water," said the uncle of the deceased brothers, Abid. "I went there with Imran to take bring them back home but could not find them. I just found one's slipper in the water."

Abid jumped into the nullah and found both the brothers. By that time, family members and neighbours also reached the site. They took the brothers to a private hospital where doctors pronounced them dead.

Quoting the witnesses, the family said the incident occurred when Zakir fell into the nullah after his foot slipped. While trying to rescue his younger brother, Shakir also fell into the nullah.



The family and residents of the area later staged a protest and blamed the government authorities for the incident.  "The government did not make arrangements to cover the nullah. It is not the first time such an incident has taken place, as a number of similar incidents have occurred in the uncovered nullahs of Karachi," said the protesters.

No case has been registered, as, according to the police officials, there was no foul play involved.