A child, who fell into an open manhole in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area near Nipa Chowrangi, has still not been found even after several hours, and excavation is ongoing using heavy machinery.
The incident occurred around 11 PM on Sunday. Rescue personnel began searching for the child but were unsuccessful, leading to halt of the rescue operation.
Rescue officials told local media that they did not have the machinery needed for digging, no department provided equipment, and no officer from any government institution was present at the time. The machinery that was initially working also left the site.
After the rescue operation was halted, local residents arranged heavy machinery on their own, and excavation is now underway with this equipment.
The child who fell into the open manhole has been identified as 3-year-old Ibrahim, son of Nabeel. Ibrahim had come shopping with his family at a departmental store.
According to the child’s father, as they were leaving after shopping, his son slipped out of his hand and ran. Their motorcycle was parked near the manhole. The boy fell into the gutter right before his eyes, there was no cover on the manhole.
Following the tragedy, citizens began protesting at Nipa Chowrangi, burning tires and blocking the road.
