KARACHI:
A tragic incident occurred in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar on Monday when two young boys lost their lives after drowning in a pit filled with rainwater at an under-construction site. A third child, who was also present, managed to escape unharmed.
The victims were identified as 10-year-old Mureed Hussain, son of Abdul Muneer, and 11-year-old Haris, son of Abdul Ghaffar. Both boys belonged to Bhittaiabad. Their bodies were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) by an Edhi Ambulance for medico-legal formalities before being handed over to their grieving families.
According to police, the children had entered the pit, which had been dug for laying the foundation of a new building near Block 9, Magsi Chowk, within the jurisdiction of Malir Cantonment Police Station. The pit had collected large amounts of rainwater, making it a dangerous trap for anyone venturing inside. Malir Cantonment SHO Agha Abdul Rasheed confirmed that Mureed’s younger brother, Ghulam Hussain, was also present but survived without injury.
This is not an isolated tragedy. Earlier this year, a similar case of negligence claimed another young life in Rawalpindi. In May, 17-year-old Rehan Masih died after slipping into an uncovered 17-foot-deep excavation pit near Dhoke Kala Khan Service Road. The pit had been dug months earlier by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) for a water tank project but was left abandoned due to lack of funds.
Locals had repeatedly raised concerns about the hazard, saying the site had already witnessed several minor incidents before the fatal accident. The pit, filled with stagnant and filthy rainwater, had also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, adding to public health risks.
Rehan, who was playing cricket nearby, reportedly slipped and fell into the trench while fielding. His body was later recovered with difficulty and shifted to the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital for medico-legal procedures before being handed over to his family.
Both incidents have fueled anger among residents, who accuse authorities of negligence and indifference toward public safety. In Rawalpindi, the tragedy sparked protests, with citizens demanding strict action against WASA. In Karachi, the latest deaths once again highlight the dangers posed by unmonitored construction sites and the urgent need for accountability.
