Manhole that devoured Dilbar still uncovered

Lidless death traps highlight official apathy

Lidless manholes have turned into deadly traps for unsuspecting Karachiites, especially children, amid what can only be described as criminal apathy on the part of civic authorities.

Officials routinely issue sympathetic statements or even offer public apologies for media consumption, only to retreat into inaction and wait for the next tragedy to unfold.

A few days ago, a toddler lost his life after being swallowed by an open manhole in front of his helpless mother, who watched in horror as her three-year-old was swept away by foul, gushing water.

While the haunting footage of the distraught mother continues to torment Karachiites, yet another young life has since been claimed by a sewer, underscoring the city's deadly neglect.

Eight-year-old Dilbar Ali lost his life after falling into a coverless manhole in Sector 6-G of Mehran Town on Monday, pushing the total number of deaths caused by open manholes to 27 so far this year, according to unofficial figures.

Despite repeated promises of corrective measures, there is still no visible action by civic authorities to address the hazard. An atmosphere of anger and grief prevails in Mehran Town, where residents are mourning yet another life lost to official neglect.

Muhammad Waheed, a social activist from Mehran Town, said that the area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Shah Faisal Town, is part of the Korangi Industrial Zone.

The locality, home to a large working-class population, is plagued by dilapidated streets and a widespread absence of manhole covers.

Dilber Ali's uncle was able to pull him out of the manhole, but by then, the child had already succumbed to the injuries caused by the fall. The news of the incident quickly spread, and a large crowd gathered at the site, expressing intense grief and frustration over the preventable death.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, local political and municipal leaders, including Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, Shah Faisal Town Chairman Gohar Khattak, and representatives from various political parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami, PTI, and the PPP, visited the area. They issued statements of condolence, but their words were quickly overshadowed by a heated political blame game. Each representative pointed fingers at others, but no one took responsibility for the fatal negligence.

The open manhole at the site of Dilbar Ali's death remains uncovered.

Azhar Ali, the grieving father of the victim, lamented that even after such a tragic incident, no action had been taken to secure the open manhole that had claimed his child's life.

The child's maternal grandfather, Shaukat Ali, was equally distraught, questioning the lack of basic infrastructure in the city. "We pay taxes to the government, but we can't even get manhole covers installed?"

Dilbar Ali's uncle, Sardar Ali, a labourer by profession, also appealed to the authorities not to politicise the tragedy. "We are workers, and no one has come to help us. Our nephew is gone, and the family is in grief. Please don't make this a political issue," he urged.

Chaudhry Shahid Hussain, the spokesperson for the Chhipa Foundation, revealed that 27 people have already died this year due to falls into open manholes and drains, including 14 fatalities from manholes and 13 from open drains. Among the victims were 21 adults and six children.