Maps
Magazine

LEGAL

KMC Blames BRT Officials, Store Management for Child’s Death in Open Manhole
A KMC inquiry into the tragic death of a 3-year-old in an open manhole near Nipa blames negligence by BRT officials and a nearby department store. Damaged drains, unsafe construction, and lack of coordination highlighted in report. Justice demanded by residents.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-03
KMC Blames BRT Officials, Store Management for Child’s Death in Open Manhole

A Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) report has held officials of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project and the management of a nearby department store responsible for the tragic drowning of a three-year-old boy in an open manhole in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Sunday night.

The child's body, discovered nearly 15 hours after he fell into the manhole near Nipa, prompted an urgent recovery operation ordered by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and the municipal commissioner. KMC teams began efforts at the site located in front of the Chase Departmental Store, where the incident occurred.

Following retrieval of the body, KMC authorities carried out a detailed inspection to determine the cause of the tragedy. According to the report, the ongoing BRT construction at the location emerged as a “significant contributing factor,” having caused severe damage and disruption to the drainage system stretching from Nipa to Aziz Bhatti Park.

Inspectors found that many drainage points along the route were covered with makeshift two-by-two-foot slabs — a non-standard method never used by the KMC. One of these temporary covers, the report noted, had been left open directly in front of the store.

The report also stated that BRT officials neither sought clearance from the KMC nor notified the municipal authority before carrying out excavation and drainage-related work. These improvised pits were later paved over as part of road construction, further complicating visibility and safety.

“In light of the facts, the incident occurred due to the carelessness of both the concerned BRT officials and the management of Chase Departmental Store,” the report concluded, adding that neither party took adequate steps to secure the dangerous opening.

The ongoing development of the BRT Red Line project has transformed major arteries — especially University Road, one of the city’s busiest — into active construction zones. Residents say insufficient safety measures and poor coordination among civic agencies have increased hazards in the area.

Following the child's death, grief-stricken relatives and area residents staged protests on Sunday night and again on Monday, expressing outrage at the lack of timely response from civic bodies. On Tuesday, multiple political parties also held demonstrations, demanding accountability from city officials, including calls for the Karachi mayor's resignation. Additionally, several pleas have been filed in court seeking action against those responsible.

KMC reported that under the supervision of the District East deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, and BRT engineers, the excavated pits were subsequently refilled to ensure smoother flow of traffic. However, residents continue to call for stricter safety protocols to prevent such preventable tragedies in the future.
Tagged:

KarachiNews

BRTProject

GulshaneIqbal

KMCReport
Share News: