Yawning ‘death traps’ plague Hyderabad streets, roads

Uncovered manholes pose threat to unsuspecting motorists, bikers

HYDERABAD:

Scores of streets of Hyderabad have become "death traps" for unsuspecting motorcyclists and pedestrians, especially children, as the covers of hundreds of manholes in the sewerage system have gone missing.

The danger increases manifolds in the night, especially during load-shedding hours, but several incidents have failed to move the civic authorities into action.

In the three tehsils of Hyderabad district, namely Hyderabad City, Latifabad, and Qasimabad, where an underground drainage system exists, WASA, a sub-department of the Hyderabad Development Authority, is responsible for its upkeep and maintenance.

Across the three tehsils, there are thousands of manholes where metal covers were previously installed.

These covers were robust and seldom required repairs. Although relatively expensive, they served their purpose for years. However, WASA officials replaced them with manhole covers made of cement and gravel following frequent theft of metal covers by thieves.

Unfortunately, these cemented covers are not durable and sustainable. After repeated complaints from citizens, WASA started replacing the cemented manhole covers with wooden ones.

WASA officials argued that the metallic in the cemented covers attracted drug addicts who stole them to earn a few rupees for their drugs.

Reports suggest that the contracts for purchase of wooden covers were awarded without merit, resulting in the use of low-quality and substandard wood in the manhole covers.

These inferior wooden covers broke within a few months, while some of them were stolen by druggies. Consequently, there are now hundreds of yawning manholes on the roads and streets of Hyderabad and Latifabad.

The absence of these manhole covers is causing accidents.

Frustrated by the lack of response from responsible officers for weeks, local residents have resorted to placing stones, blocks, and plant pots on these manholes to warn unsuspecting motorists and bikers against the danger ahead.