Open manhole takes life of one more child

Residents hold PPP-led city govt responsible for criminal negligence

KARACHI:

Open manhole devoured another child in the city.

With the PPP ruling both the city and the provincial governments, four-year-old Mohsin Ghulam Mustafa’s parents say when will the government wake up to its responsibilities.

The residents of Shah Latif Town staged a protest after burial of the child. The locals demanded covers on manholes and sewers to prevent cases of child drowning.

Mohsin’s father Ghulam Mustafa said the child had stepped out of the house on Wednesday at around 3pm and went missing. Subsequently, they initiated the search for the child and after two hours of searching, Mohsin's aunt finally located his body in a sewer.

Mustafa, who works as a labourer at a fruit market, said that Mohsin was the fifth among six siblings.

The family of the deceased child told the media persons that the drains in Shah Latif Town are open, and the covers of manholes are missing. Mohsin has fallen victim to the criminal negligence of government institutions, they said.

The residents of the area said they have informed the administration multiple times about the uncovered manholes, but they have not responded to the issue of open manholes. The residents urging the administration to put covers on open manholes in Shah Latif Town promptly to prevent future accidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2024.