- Police say boy fell while playing outside home.
- Boy’s uncle pulled body from sewer: police.
- Body transferred to hospital for legal formalities.
KARACHI: An eight-year-old boy died after falling into an open sewer in Korangi’s Mehran Town, police officials said on Monday.
Police officials said that the child, identified as Dilbar, was playing outside his home when he fell into the sewer.
Dilbar’s uncle retrieved the body from the sewer after the neighbour’s children informed the family.
Police officials said that the body was being transferred to a hospital for legal formalities.
The incident follows a similar tragedy a month ago that triggered social media outrage.
Several government officials were suspended after a three-year-old child slipped into an uncovered manhole outside a departmental store near Karachi’s Nipa flyover on November 30.
People reportedly pooled money to bring in machinery themselves in a desperate bid to rescue the child.
The body of the child, identified as three-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim, was found 14 hours later.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab later visited the family’s home and apologised to them for the tragic incident.
He assured the bereaved family of an impartial investigation into the incident, saying that anyone found negligent would face action.
Last week, the Karachi police committee termed the boy’s death an “accident”.
The police maintained that in light of the parents’ statements and the circumstances of the incident, no cognisable offence was established and the incident was an accident.