A three-year-old child died after falling into a sewer in Islamabad’s Sumbal area on Wednesday, officials have said.
According to a spokesperson for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, the incident occurred in an informal settlement built on encroached land. The spokesperson said a seweage pit had been dug in the area and left uncovered.
The child reportedly fell into the pit, resulting in fatal injuries.
Authorities said legal action is being initiated against those responsible for the excavation, adding that further investigation into the incident is under way.
Incidents of children falling into open sewers and manholes have been occurring frequently, raising concerns over public safety and urban infrastructure.
Recurrent incidents that occurred in the previous year follow an incident of a video of a young girl falling into an open manhole in Karachi.
The footage shows her falling in a manhole, local residents pulling her out and rinsing her off with water, before taking her away.
According to the police, the video appears to be from Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town. They also mentioned that an investigation is ongoing to identify who filmed it and when it took place.
A three-year-old boy, Ibrahim, fell into an open manhole near Nipa Chowrangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, in November 2025.
His body was discovered 15 hours later in a nearby drain following a search by rescue teams and volunteers. Ibrahim ran ahead of his family, while visiting a store and slipped into the uncovered manhole.
Ibrahim’s incident prompted protests close to Nipa Chowrangi, with residents blocking roads leading to Hasan Square and the University of Karachi, demanding action from authorities.
Protesters stated that their numerous warnings regarding open manholes had not received any attention or action.