Six-year-old drowns in sludge-filled pond

Ramzan slipped into pond while playing with other children in the Yakoobabad locality of Orangi Town

KARACHI:

A six-year-old child lost his life after drowning in a murky and sludge-filled pond in Orangi Town on Friday. The grieving family has called for immediate closure of the pond and demanded accountability of the authorities for their negligence.

The young victim, identified as Ramzan, met his demise as he accidentally slipped into the stinking pond while playing with other children in the Yakoobabad locality of Orangi Town.

Neighbours alerted Ramzan's parents. His father, along with his brother and area people searched for over an hour until they finally located the boy's lifeless body submerged in the muddy water.

Upon discovering Ramzan, the family rushed him to a local hospital. Medics referred him to the Abashi Shaheed Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Ramzan was the youngest of three brothers and had four sisters.

According to relatives, Ramzan had gone out to play with the neighbourhood children on the fateful day. Most children in the locality frequently gather around the open field near the pond for recreation. The pond is located approximately 30 minutes away from the victim's residence. When Ramzan accidentally fell into the pond, the local children quickly informed his family. Ramzan's elder brother and a cousin rushed to the scene to assist in the search.

When they finally located Ramzan's body after a painstaking 2-hour search, it was evident that he had stopped breathing. Despite their denial of the grim reality, the family sought medical attention at the nearby Muhammad Hospital, which then directed them to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH), where medical professionals confirmed the young boy's tragic passing. He was laid to rest in a nearby graveyard.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2023.