KARACHI: The funeral prayer for three-year-old Ibrahim, who tragically lost his life after falling into an uncovered manhole near NIPA Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, was conducted in Shah Faisal Colony, Sector 5.
Ibrahim’s body was recovered after a 15-hour search. The young child fell into the open manhole on Sunday night around 11 PM while he was with his family on their way to a departmental store. Rescue teams immediately began efforts to locate him but initially faced difficulties, leading to a temporary halt in official rescue operations.
residents took the initiative, bringing heavy machinery and continuing excavation at the site. According to reports, a trash picker claimed to have personally retrieved Ibrahim’s body from the drain and handed it over to authorities, adding a heartbreaking detail to the tragedy. The funeral was attended by notable figures, including Munim Zafar, Karachi’s head of Jamaat-e-Islami, and Shariq Jamal, a Member of the Provincial Assembly from MQM-P. Officials have called for increased caution around uncovered manholes across Karachi, emphasizing the urgent need for measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Meanwhile, a recent report revealed that Karachi received 1,543 complaints regarding missing or open manhole covers between October 23 and December 1, highlighting a significant safety concern in the city’s 25 administrative towns.
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has addressed 1,449 of these complaints so far. North Nazimabad Town recorded the highest number of reports, with 169 complaints, making it the most affected area. New Karachi Town reported 149 complaints related specifically to open manholes, while Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town ranked third with 110 complaints. The tragic incident involving Ibrahim occurred within Gulshan-e-Iqbal’s jurisdiction, where 107 of the total complaints have already been resolved.
Other towns also showed considerable numbers: Jinnah Town with 65, Saddar Town with 64, Lyari Town with 37, Keamari Town with 46, and Liaquatabad Town with 36 complaints. Landhi Town recorded 49 reports, Korangi Town 92, Malir Town 39, SITE Town 17, Model Colony 40, and Safoora Town 94 complaints.
Additional towns recorded the following: Shah Faisal Town with 56, Chanesar Town with 47, Baldia Town with 50, and Sohrab Goth Town with only three complaintsthe lowest among all.
Officials stress that the data highlights the ongoing need for strict oversight and swift action to prevent future tragedies across the city.
