No trace of boy lost in IJP drain

Rescue teams continued an intensive search operation on Thursday for a seven-year-old boy who fell into a sewage drain near Kacha Stop on IJP Road, as more than 24 hours passed without any trace of the missing child.

The boy, identified as Visal Farhad, reportedly fell into the drain while playing during heavy rainfall at around 6:30pm on Wednesday. Rescue 1122 personnel responded immediately after receiving the emergency call and launched a large-scale search operation, which remains underway.

Authorities have deployed four specialised Rescue 1122 teams in collaboration with WASA, Suthra Punjab and Rawalpindi Police. The teams are conducting foot patrols, line searches, scuba operations and excavator-assisted inspections at various points along the drainage network.

According to rescue officials, more than 4.5 kilometres of the drain have already been searched. The operation is being supervised by District Emergency Officer Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, Engineer Sibghatullah, who has established a command post near the incident site to monitor and coordinate rescue efforts.

Incident Commander Muhammad Hamza said four teams had been stationed at strategic locations and were working round the clock to locate the child. Search operations are focused on underground drainage channels, the main drain and areas where debris may have obstructed the flow of water or trapped the child.

Officials said part of the sewage drain within the residential neighbourhood remains uncovered. The drain passes beneath the road through an underground channel before joining a larger drain near IJP Road approximately 700 metres away. Large quantities of rubbish, silt and mud accumulated within the drainage system have significantly complicated rescue efforts.