Karachi’s Korangi witnessed a confrontation between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers and Fixit volunteers over an open manhole after the death of eight-year-old Dilbar Ali, who became the second child to fall to his death due to civic negligence in the port city within a month.
As per the details, volunteers from Fixit – a non-profit organisation highlighting and fixing social, civic and political issues faced by the people – on Monday arrived at the site with a vehicle carrying manhole covers. Their intention was to place a cover on the open sewer where the incident occurred.
Witnesses reported that PPP workers objected to the installation, leading to a dispute between the two groups. The volunteers were reportedly stopped from installing the cover and left the site.
Residents of Korangi described the clash as part of a “politics of manhole covers” where responsibility for civic issues is contested rather than addressed. Several locals also expressed frustration that efforts to secure the area were blocked, especially after multiple fatalities linked to uncovered sewers.
While no official statement has so far been released by the Karachi administration regarding the clash or the installation of manhole covers at the site, Dilbar’s father, in conversation with journalists, blamed civic authorities for his son’s death.
He said the manhole cover had been removed about a month ago for sewer cleaning but was never replaced. The father also appealed to the government to ensure all open manholes in Karachi are covered to prevent further accidents.
It merits a mention that the incident comes just weeks after three-year-old Ibrahim also tragically died in Karachi after falling into an uncovered manhole near NIPA Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
His body was recovered after a 15-hour search as authorities concerned continued with a blame game or politicisation of the incident.