Family unsatisfied as operation underway to find 3-year old boy who fell into open manhole

A rescue operation is underway to locate a three-year-old boy who fell into an open manhole near Nipa Chowrangi in Karachi last night, officials said on Monday.

Several hours have passed after the incident but the child has still not been found.

The accident has triggered widespread anger among residents who took to the streets, burning tyres and blocking roads, which brought traffic movement to a halt.

The University Road, particularly the stretch from Nipa to Hasan Square in both directions, has been closed to all vehicular traffic, causing inconvenience for commuters. Rescue officials said that the strong water flow inside the manhole is hindering the operation.

Speaking to the media, the child’s grandfather said that the boy’s parents had come for shopping at around 10:30 p.m. The father had stepped away to park the motorcycle while the child, who was with his mother, ran after him, he added.

"The manhole was not covered and he fell straight into it” he said. Overwhelmed with grief, the grandfather added that the boy is the couple’s only child. “My son has a private job. We are in unbearable pain. Even after three to three and a half hours, no officials came to help. People tried to assist on their own. We are not satisfied with the rescue efforts.”

He appealed to the Governor of Sindh, the Chief Minister, and the Mayor of Karachi: “Please consider him as your own child and help us recover him.”