Another minor loses life after falling into uncovered manhole

Karachi: An eight-year-old boy died after plunging into an open manhole in Mehran Town, Sector 6-G of Korangi, in yet another tragic incident underscoring continued administrative negligence in the city.

According to police, the child, identified as Dilbar—the only son of his parents—was playing outside his home with friends when he accidentally slipped into an uncovered sewer. Nearby children raised an alarm, prompting the family to rush to the spot. The boy’s uncle managed to pull him out of the manhole, but he had already succumbed.

Rescue officials later confirmed the death, while police said the body was shifted to a hospital for medico-legal procedures. No representatives from civic agencies were present at the scene, with only police and rescue teams handling the situation.

The victim’s grandfather told the media that the manhole had remained uncovered for nearly one to one-and-a-half months. He appealed to the authorities to take immediate notice of the incident and ensure that manholes are properly covered to avert further loss of life.

Local residents voiced strong resentment over the tragedy, accusing the authorities of ignoring the persistent problem of open drains and manholes despite repeated fatal incidents across Karachi. They said uncovered sewers continue to pose a grave danger, especially to children.

The incident adds to a growing list of similar accidents in the city. Just last month, on November 30, 2025, a three-year-old boy, Ibrahim, fell into an open manhole near the NIPA Roundabout, and his body was recovered after a 15-hour-long rescue operation.