Sindh Govt Suspends Officials Following Death of Child in Karachi Manhole

KARACHI: The Sindh Local Government Department on Wednesday suspended several officials after a three-year-old boy tragically fell into an open manhole in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. The incident occurred near the Nipa flyover, prompting a high-level review chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

Suspended officials include Imran Ahmed Rajput, senior director of municipal services at Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC); Rashid Fayyaz, assistant executive engineer at Town Municipal Corporation, Gulshan-e-Iqbal; Assistant Commissioner Aamir Ali Shah; and Mukhtiarkar Salman Farsi. The move comes after widespread social media criticism over governance lapses contributing to the tragedy.

The boy, the only child of his parents, fell into the uncovered manhole, reportedly without a lid for several days. Members of the public pooled funds and brought machinery to assist in the rescue. However, he was recovered only 14 hours later on Monday morning, with eyewitnesses reporting delays in the arrival of state machinery.

Karachi police have constituted a three-member inquiry committee under Police Chief Javed Alam Odho to investigate the incident. The committee comprises Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East DIG Admin Ahmed Nawaz Cheema and SSP Investigation Central Anum Tajammul. The inquiry aims to determine accountability and submit a report to the Karachi police chief. Police officials have visited the family of the deceased to record statements.

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In response to allegations in the KMC report, the Red Line BRT project clarified that the site of the incident is significantly distant from ongoing construction activities. The project stated it is not responsible for maintaining or repairing the sewerage or drainage infrastructure near the site, and no civil works were being conducted in the immediate vicinity. Any excavation previously conducted was approximately 300 meters away.

The KMC investigation, however, held both the Red Line BRT project and the nearby department store administration responsible, citing that BRT construction had caused severe damage and disruption to the drainage system running from Nipa to Aziz Bhatti Park, contributing to the tragic accident.

The incident has reignited public concern over urban infrastructure maintenance and the accountability of municipal authorities in Karachi.