KARACHI: A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded near the NIPA Bridge in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, where a three-year-old child named Ibrahim fell into an uncovered manhole in Karachi late Sunday night.
Even after nine hours of continuous efforts, rescue teams were unable to recover the child, triggering anger and chaos among residents and relatives.
The incident occurred around 11 PM when Ibrahim had arrived with his family for shopping. According to eyewitnesses, an open manhole outside a shopping center proved fatal as the child, while running, suddenly slipped into it.
The boy’s mother collapsed in grief, and the sorrowful cries of the family left the entire area in mourning.
The child’s father, overwhelmed with pain, said they had just stepped outside the shopping mall when the boy suddenly broke free from his hand and ran toward a parked motorcycle near the open drain.
Within moments, Ibrahim fell into the manhole right before their eyes.
The grandfather of the child directly appealed to the Sindh Government, stating that he would not leave the site until his grandson was found.
He urged the authorities to speed up rescue operations and emotionally addressed the city administration by saying that officials also had children of their own.
During the prolonged rescue delay, frustrated citizens turned violent, damaging vehicles, shattering car windows, and attacking passersby.
Media teams covering the incident were also targeted during the unrest.
Responding to the situation, Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed described the incident as extremely tragic and said rescue teams had reached the site immediately after receiving information.
She criticized local administrations and questioned where development funds assigned to towns were being spent, adding that some political groups only knew how to create noise.
Meanwhile, Karachi chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Monem Zafar Khan, blamed the tragedy on administrative failure and demanded strict punishment for those responsible.
He further stated that Karachi had been turned into a concrete jungle and questioned accountability after 17 years of rule by the Pakistan People’s Party, asking who would finally be held responsible for such negligence.
