Two Girls Die After Falling Into Open Manhole in Naseerabad

News Desk
QUETTA: In a tragic and deeply distressing incident, two young girls lost their lives on Tuesday after slipping into an uncovered sewage drain in the Irrigation Colony area of Naseerabad district, local authorities confirmed.
The victims, whose young ages have plunged the local community into grief, succumbed to drowning before rescue efforts could save them.
The unfortunate event has once again cast a harsh spotlight on the grave dangers posed by neglected municipal infrastructure across parts of Balochistan, where open manholes and unmaintained drainage systems continue to threaten civilian safety, particularly that of children.
According to initial reports from the district administration, the girls were playing near their home in the Irrigation Colony when the accident occurred.
Local residents rushed to the scene upon hearing cries for help and managed to pull the children from the deep gutter, but they were pronounced dead upon arrival at the nearby healthcare facility.
Distressed family members and neighbours staged a brief protest following the incident, holding local municipal authorities directly responsible for criminal negligence due to failing to cover or repair the hazardous drainage lines.
The recurring loss of innocent lives in open gutters highlights systemic flaws in urban and rural civic management across several districts of the province.
Civil society organizations and residents have repeatedly demanded accountability from municipal committees for leaving drainage infrastructure exposed.
Despite previous directives from provincial authorities to ensure all manholes are securely covered, enforcement remains lax, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to daily hazards.
The incident has intensified pressure on the provincial government to prioritize public safety infrastructure and penalize negligent officials.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Deputy Commissioner of Naseerabad has taken notice of the incident and ordered an immediate inquiry to fix responsibility for the administrative lapse.
Officials have assured the bereaved family that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted into the municipal department’s oversight.
Meanwhile, local authorities have initiated an emergency campaign to seal open manholes across Naseerabad to prevent any recurrence of such a heartbreaking disaster, while grieving relatives continue to demand justice.