A heartbreaking tragedy in Karachi has shocked the city, three-year-old Ibrahim fell into an open manhole near the Nipa Chowrangi area in Gulshan-e-Iqbal late on Sunday evening. Witnesses say the boy slipped out from his father’s hand outside a departmental store, ran ahead, and accidentally fell into the uncovered sewer opening.
CCTV footage obtained from a nearby store captures the terrifying moment: Ibrahim can be seen walking by parked motorcycles and suddenly disappearing into the uncovered drain. His mother rushed out screaming for help, but rescue efforts were delayed and struggled due to lack of proper equipment.
City rescue teams and volunteers searched for more than 14 hours before recovering Ibrahim’s body the next morning near Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology. The boy had been swept away by sewage and found many meters downstream.
The tragedy has provoked widespread anger and grief among residents. Many blame local authorities for negligence, citing repeated incidents of open, unmarked manholes across the city. Protests erupted near Nipa Chowrangi, with citizens demanding accountability and safer urban infrastructure.
Several petitions have already been filed calling for a full judicial inquiry and criminal charges against municipal authorities, including the city’s water-sewerage board and project contractors involved in nearby construction.
Ibrahim’s death is a painful reminder of the cost of urban neglect. For many in Karachi, it underscores the urgent need for better civic oversight, timely maintenance of public infrastructure, and strict safety measures to prevent such heartbreaking accidents in the future.
