The body of a three-year-old boy who had fallen into an open manhole on Sunday night near Nipa Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal was recovered after a prolonged 14-hour search on Monday, sparking public outrage and protests and an official inquiry into alleged negligence by civic authorities.
The child, identified as Ibrahim, son of Nabeel, slipped into an uncovered manhole Sunday night at around 9:30pm outside a department store. According to his father, the family had just finished shopping when the child ran ahead and fell into the open drain. “The manhole had no cover. My son fell right before my eyes,” the grieving father said.
Ibrahim was the couple’s only child.
The family and people present at the scene immediately informed the relevant authorities about the incident and requested urgent action. Unfortunately, no one arrived initially. As a result, they had to arrange the machinery themselves and start the search and rescue operation, during which they faced significant difficulties and were unable to succeed at first. Therefore, they were forced to halt operations due to a lack of required machinery. Witnesses and family stated that no government institution provided support, prompting residents to arrange heavy machinery on their own. Divers also attempted to locate the child but were unsuccessful.
“This is a nullah under the Karachi Municipal Corporation. Due to their negligence, the rainwater drain from University Road has been diverted into this gutter. Now, the drainage from all nearby settlements flows into it 24/7, merging into this same line,” said protesters.
Ibrahim’s body was eventually found nearly one kilometre away in a storm water drain after travelling with the water flow inside the line. KMC staff retrieved the body and handed it over to the grandfather. Eyewitnesses said the body had become stuck at a point downstream where rescuers finally located it on Monday afternoon.
The incident triggered widespread public anger. Residents blocked Nipa Chowrangi, University Road, Hassan Square and adjoining routes by burning tyres. A media van also reportedly came under attack during the protests.
Authorities reported that rescue efforts were complicated by the fast-flowing water inside the manhole and the absence of proper machinery. Traffic on University Road, earlier blocked by protesters, was later restored.
Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed confirmed that an inquiry had been initiated to determine why the manhole was left uncovered, promising strict action against responsible officials.
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab also ordered a probe, saying: “If any officer is found negligent, action will be taken.” He criticised those who “tried to politicise the tragedy,” adding that rescue work continued over a 500-metre stretch.
Speaking to the media, the mayor said that the town chairman belongs to Jamaat-e-Islami and that making further remarks could upset people. He clarified that the location of the incident was not a sewage line but a storm water drain and expressed his sympathy with the family over their loss, stating that he shared their grief.
“I will have this matter thoroughly inquired. In the middle of the city, right next to a large departmental store where thousands of people come and go daily, and beside our major hospital, how could this remain open for so many days? Whether it was already open or someone opened it at that time this will be checked.
“If there has been any negligence on the part of the authorities, I assure you that action will be taken. I will also contact the elected UC chairman of the area to ask whether he coordinated with anyone regarding the manhole cover whether it was in place or missing,” he said.
In contrast, Deputy Mayor Salman Murad claimed machinery and officials were present from the beginning and accused ‘miscreants’ of creating chaos and damaging vehicles. It should be noted that this is not the first incident in Karachi where a mother lost her child due to a missing manhole cover.
Ibrahim’s mother is still in shock, while the entire neighbourhood mourns the loss. His grandfather criticised civic negligence, saying, “They collect parking fees but cannot place a cover on a manhole.”
Reactions
The tragic incident sparked intense uproar on Monday during a session of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council where opposition members staged a strong protest against the city administration.
Opposition members demanded the resignation of the mayor, and called for a criminal case to be registered against the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board managing director, the executive engineer (XEN) and the mayor.
The session remained tense as opposition members continued chanting slogans, insisting that those responsible for leaving the manhole open must face legal consequences. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leaders on Monday strongly condemned the tragic death of a young boy who fell into an open manhole in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, calling it a glaring example of the city’s collapsing infrastructure and government negligence.
During a press conference in Karachi, Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman expressed deep sorrow over the child’s death and criticised the authorities for failing to ensure safety of people.
Karachi JI Emir Muneem Zafar also condemned the incident in strong words, saying, “Children are falling into gutters and dying. The city’s infrastructure is in ruins. We strongly condemn this tragic incident.”
He stated that even after 12 hours, rescue teams were unable to recover the child’s body, calling it a failure of the administration and a reflection of the deteriorating municipal system in Karachi.
Central President of Pakistan Sunni Tehreek Sahibzada Allama Bilal Abbas Qadri also condemned the negligence of the authorities that resulted in the child’s death. In a statement issued on Monday, he said the repeated occurrence of such incidents in a megacity like Karachi reflected the collapse of basic municipal services.
A spokesperson for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) also lamented the tragic death of a young child, calling it a product of 18 years of corrupt governance. According to the MQM-P spokesperson, University Road and surrounding areas had long been a site of accidents and fatalities, reflecting the indifference of provincial and local authorities over the years.
He also criticised other political parties and said, “Groups like Jamaat-e-Islami are only capable of making noise; despite having chairpersons in all nine towns, they shy away from taking responsibility for such accidents, engaging instead in blame games. This exposes their hypocrisy at the highest level.”
The MQM-P called on the Sindh government to immediately launch a transparent inquiry into the incident and ensure practical measures are taken to support the bereaved family. Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Sindh Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf President Haleem Adil Sheikh said the criminal negligence of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government had once again destroyed a family. He added that the child’s body was recovered after 15 hours of search efforts led by local residents, highlighting the collapse of civic governance.
“Despite receiving Rs. 30 trillion over 18 years, the Sindh government has failed to provide even manhole covers in Karachi. The mayor belongs to PPP, the provincial government belongs to PPP, they cannot escape responsibility,” he said.
He questioned PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh chief minister and Karachi mayor who was supposed to protect the lives of the children of Karachi. Meanwhile, the water corporation distanced itself from responsibility, stating that the incident did not occur at one of its manholes or sewerage lines.
In an official statement, the KWSC said every incident involving loss of human life was regrettable. It, however, clarified that it was not responsible for the location where the incident occurred. “There is no sewerage line or water corporation manhole at the site of the incident,” a spokesperson for the KWSC said.
He stated that the maintenance, repair and cleaning of storm water drains were not part of the KWSC’s responsibilities. Meanwhile, police said legal proceedings would be carried out in accordance with the wishes of the child’s parents. They stressed that the case would be pursued fully under the law, ensuring that the family’s concerns were addressed.
Ibrahim was a resident of Shah Faisal Colony. His body was initially taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and later to a morgue in Malir. It was announced that the funeral prayers for Ibrahim would be offered near his residence in Shah Faisal Colony No 5 after the Isha prayers in Sunday. The child’s family stated that they planned to pursue legal proceedings regarding the incident after the funeral and burial.
