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Open sewers become death traps in Karachi

Young man dies while attempting to retrieve his 7-year-old nephew from open manhole

Our Correspondent November 11, 2023

They had initially refused to descend the 10-foot manhole, but the chief inspector had threatened to fire them. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

KARACHI:

Open manholes have become death traps for unsuspecting citizens of the metropolitan city. A young man died after descending into an open sewer to save his nephew in Korangi's Gulzar Colony on Friday.

Obaidullah, the SHO of Korangi Industrial Area police station, said that 32-year-old Sakhi Dad, son of Wali Dad, died while trying to save his seven-year-old nephew from the open sewer. Although his nephew was pulled out alive from the manhole, but Sakhi lost his own life in the process, the SHO said.

As per the accounts of local residents, two children were heading to a shop to buy milk when one of them fell into the open sewer. The other child rushed home and informed his maternal uncle, Sakhi, who rushed to rescue his nephew. However, during the rescue attempt, Sakhi lost consciousness in the gutter.

Read Open manhole devours another child

Nearby watchmen raised alarms, and one of them descended into the open sewer, also losing consciousness. A labourer working nearby was called who covered his face with a cloth, tied a rope around his waist, and descended to bring them all to safety. After successfully rescuing everyone, including the child, the labourer emerged from the sewer but subsequently fainted.

Everyone was rushed to the JPMC where Sakhi passed away during the course of treatment. Local residents appealed to the provincial government to take immediate steps to safeguard the lives of their children. They questioned how long they must endure such incidents, citing previous occurrences in Malir and Quaidabad.

The city mayor has claimed that the municipal authorities would be installing sewer lids. However, when approached, the concerned UC chairman explained that the allocated budget of Rs0.5 million is insufficient. A significant portion, Rs0.4 million, is dedicated to salaries, leaving only Rs75,000 for sewer lid installation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2023.