Karachi – December 1, 2025
The body of three-year-old Ibrahim, who fell into an open manhole near Nipa Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Sunday night, was recovered Monday afternoon recovered from a drain one kilometre away from the accident site, ending a heartbreaking 14-hour rescue operation.
The body of three-year-old Ibrahim, who fell into an open manhole near Nipa Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Sunday night, was recovered Monday afternoon recovered from a drain one kilometre away from the accident site, ending a heartbreaking 14-hour rescue operation.
Highlights
- Child fell into uncovered manhole outside a busy departmental store at Nipa
- Rescue 1122 launched immediate search despite night-time visibility challenges
- Body found 14 hours later, 1 km downstream in the main nullah
- Angry residents blocked University Road, attacked media vehicles, and pelted stones
- Sindh government orders inquiry; promises strict action against negligence
How the Tragedy Unfolded
Ibrahim, resident of Shah Faisal Colony, had come with his parents for shopping. The father told reporters that as they stepped out of the store, his son slipped from his hand and fell straight into the open manhole. “There was no cover, no warning sign – nothing,” he said in tears.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan confirmed the control room received the call at 10 pm Sunday. Teams reached within minutes and continued the search through the night, digging at five different points and requesting drainage maps from KWSB.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>"Murtaza Wahab, you are responsible, if my child is not found, I will not leave here," grandfather of three-year-old Ibrahim, who fell into a manhole near Nipa Chowrangi, appeal to the Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karachi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Karachi</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/TOKReports?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#TOKReports</a> <a href=”https://t.co/MYy4kCf9Id”>pic.twitter.com/MYy4kCf9Id</a></p>— Times of Karachi (@TOKCityOfLights) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TOKCityOfLights/status/1995280599691726939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>November 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Public Outrage Forces Road Blockade
As hours passed without result, hundreds of citizens gathered at Nipa, burnt tyres and blocked University Road in both directions. Some protesters damaged several vehicles, including media OB vans. Rescue officials briefly halted the operation citing safety concerns for workers.
Official Response and Inquiry Ordered
Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed announced a high-level inquiry into the missing manhole cover. “Whoever is responsible for this criminal negligence will face strict action,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad placed all rescue agencies on high alert and directed KWSB to immediately survey and cover every open manhole across the city.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Karachi: A three-year-old boy remained missing more than 10 hours after falling into an open manhole near the Nipa flyover, residents and rescue workers said on Monday.<br><br>The child, identified as Ibrahim, slipped into the manhole late Sunday. Rescue teams searched the site through… <a href=”https://t.co/xaFfu6ToRG”>pic.twitter.com/xaFfu6ToRG</a></p>— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) <a href=”https://twitter.com/SAMAATV/status/1995376856149745811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>December 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Mayor Murtaza Wahab, while expressing deep grief, urged citizens not to politicise the tragedy and assured a transparent probe.
A Painfully Familiar Story
Open manholes and drains continue to claim innocent lives in Karachi. In the last eight months alone:
- September: Three sanitation workers died in Usmanabad
- May: Six-year-old boy drowned after falling into open manhole
- April: Young girl’s body recovered from Liaquatabad nullah
Citizens and civic activists are demanding permanent fixing of drainage covers and better night-time lighting in busy commercial areas. The little boy’s body has been shifted to Jinnah Hospital for legal formalities. Funeral prayers will be offered this evening.
