A tiny shoe is visible in the mud of the uncovered, choked gutter where eight-year-old Dilbar Ali died on Monday. Photo: Express
KARACHI:
Lidless manholes have become death traps for unsuspecting Karachiites, especially children, amid what can only be described as criminal apathy on the part of civil 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 nasty, gushing water.
As the haunting footage of the distraught mother continues to haunt Karachiites, 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 the civil authorities to address the menace. An atmosphere of anger and grief prevails in Mehran Town, where residents mourn yet another life lost due to official neglect.
Muhammad Waheed, a social activist from Mehran Town, said the area, which falls under Shah Faisal Town’s jurisdiction, 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. News of the incident spread quickly and a large crowd gathered at the scene, expressing intense grief and frustration at the avoidable death.
In the wake 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 PPP visited the area. They issued statements of condolence, but their words were quickly overshadowed by heated political gunplay. 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 was taken to secure the open manhole that had claimed his child’s life.
The child’s grandfather, Shaukat Ali, was equally distraught and questioned the lack of basic infrastructure in the city. “We pay taxes to the public, but we can’t even get manhole covers installed?”
Dilbar Ali’s uncle, Sardar Ali, a laborer by profession, also appealed to the authorities not to politicize the tragedy. “We are workers and no one has come to help us. Our nephew is gone and the family is in mourning. Don’t make this a political issue,” he urged.
Chaudhry Shahid Hussain, spokesperson of the Chhipa Foundation, revealed that 27 people have already died this year due to falls in open manholes and drains, including 14 killed from manholes and 13 from open drains. Among the victims were 21 adults and six children.
