In the wake of the devastating death of three-year-old Ibrahim, who fell into an open manhole near Nipa Chowrangi in Karachi, the BRT Red Line administration has formally written to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to disassociate itself from the incident. This move comes amid a growing row between municipal agencies over accountability for the tragic event.
In its letter, the BRT administration conveyed its deep grief and sorrow over the child’s unfortunate demise. Crucially, the letter clarified that the open manhole into which the child fell belonged to an old sewage channel and was not under the operational control or jurisdiction of the BRT Red Line project.
The administration outlined its position, stating:
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The site of the incident was located at a significant distance from the BRT Red Line’s construction activities.
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The BRT project has no connection with the sewage or drainage infrastructure in the area where the incident occurred.
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The parking area where the tragedy took place was primarily utilized by the adjacent departmental store.
The BRT administration emphasized that the Red Line project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), operates under stringent safety protocols. The letter aimed to dispel any perception that the accident was linked to the BRT’s infrastructure or construction.
The tragic event unfolded when Ibrahim stepped onto an open manhole, which was temporarily covered with cardboard due to a missing lid. The cardboard collapsed, causing the child to disappear into the drainage system. His body was recovered 14 hours later, a kilometer away in a nearby drain, sparking nationwide outrage over civic negligence.
