Another child dies in Karachi after falling into manhole

An eight-year-old boy, Dilbar Ali, lost his life after he accidentally fell into a manhole in Mehran Town, Sector 6-G of Korangi Industrial Area. The sad incident is one more tragedy, highlighting administrative negligence and the persistent danger posed by uncovered sewerage infrastructure in Karachi.

According to police and residents, the incident occurred at around 5pm when children were playing in the street. Dilbar accidentally fell into an uncovered manhole located adjacent to his house. Fellow children raised an alarm, prompting residents to rush out of their homes. Despite strenuous efforts by locals, who managed to pull the child out of the manhole on their own, Dilbar had breathed his last.

The area witnessed scenes of chaos and grief as the child’s family members and a large number of residents gathered at the site, expressing anger and sorrow over what they termed criminal negligence by the authorities.

SHO Korangi Industrial Area, Nasser Mahmood, said initial investigations revealed that the manhole had been left uncovered for a considerable time. “The incident took place when neighbourhood children were playing outside. Dilbar fell into the manhole near his house,” he said, adding that evidence was being collected and further inquiry was underway.

The victim’s grandfather told reporters that Dilbar was the only child of his parents. His father works as a daily wage labourer. “All the gutters in this area are open. We have complained many times, but no one listens,” he said.

A close relative of the deceased, present at the scene, said he worked in a nearby area and rushed over upon hearing about the incident. “I tied a rope around myself and went donw into the manhole along with Dilbar’s father to pull him out, but it was too late,” he said.

District Korangi SSP Fida Hussain Janwari visited the site soon after the incident and took stock of the situation. The tragedy has revived painful memories of a similar incident took place last month, when three-year-old Ibrahim fell into an open manhole near Nipa flyover in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. His body was recovered 15 hours later from a manhole near Sir Syed University on University Road, sparking outrage across the city.

Following the Nipa incident, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah took strict notice and removed several officials, including the Deputy Commissioner East, Senior Director Municipal Services of KMC, and SSP East. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also visited Ibrahim’s home to offer an apology. However, despite these measures, another child has now lost his life under similar circumstances.

According to Chhipa Foundation spokesperson, Chaudhry Shahid, at least 27 people have died this year after falling into manholes or drains across Karachi.

Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad also visited the site in Mehran Town and told the media, that accountability would be ensured. “I am not here to do politics. Responsible persons, either officials or elected representatives, will be punished,” he said.

The deputy mayor said the town chairman could not accompany him as he was in Hyderabad, while the union council chairman had been provided 10 manhole covers by the Water Corporation 10 days earlier. He added that every union council had been allocated Rs100,000 for sewerage covers.

Stressing that the issue should not be politicised, he said the deceased child belonged to everyone. “We will not do politics on dead bodies, but those responsible will be identified and punished,” he said, adding that similar action, as taken in the Nipa case, would be taken in Mehran Town incident as well.

After completion of legal formalities, Dilbar Ali’s body was handed over to his family. As the body reached home, scenes of mourning unfolded, with women collapsing in grief and residents struggling to console the bereaved family. The incident occurred within the limits of Shah Faisal Town, raising further questions over coordination among civic agencies responsible for public safety.

The tragic death has once again underscored the urgent need for systemic reforms, strict accountability, and immediate action to prevent open manholes from claiming more lives in the city.