Body of Karachi boy found 14 hours after manhole fall

News Desk 

Karachi: The body of a three-year-old boy who fell into an open manhole near Nipa flyover in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area was recovered on Monday, nearly 14 hours after the tragic incident.

The child slipped into the uncovered manhole late Sunday night outside a departmental store, after running ahead of his parents while they were out shopping, according to his father.

Rescue officials said the toddler’s body was discovered in a drainage channel approximately one kilometre from where he fell. Search efforts began immediately after the incident but were suspended #due to the unavailability of machinery.

Officials told Geo News that no government department provided equipment and no institutional representatives were present at the scene.

Local residents later arranged heavy machinery themselves, enabling excavation and recovery to continue through community support.

The victim’s grandfather, Mehmoodul Hasan, said the child was the couple’s only son and expressed dissatisfaction with the slow rescue response. The child’s mother reportedly fainted following the tragedy.

The incident sparked protests at Nipa Chowrangi, where residents burned tyres and blocked traffic towards Hassan Square. The demonstration ended after several hours, and both tracks of University Road were reopened.

Mayor orders inquiry

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said an inquiry had been ordered to determine why the manhole outside the store was left uncovered. Speaking at the KMC Sports Complex, he expressed condolences and criticised those attempting to politicise the tragedy.

He said CCTV footage from the store was being obtained and that the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) had been directed to investigate the delay in providing machinery. “If any officer is found negligent, action will be taken,” he added.

Wahab noted that no prior complaints about the missing manhole cover had been received.

Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed also confirmed that an inquiry had been launched and assured that accountability would follow once responsibility was established.