A seven-year-old boy died after falling into an open manhole in Moach Goth’s Noor Shah area, triggering protests by the victim’s family and other locals, and causing major disruption to traffic on Hub River Road and the Northern Bypass. The child was identified as Jahangir.
According to initial information, the boy accidentally fell into an open manhole. Rescue personnel and the locals retrieved his body from the manhole and took it to a nearby hospital.
Family members and other locals later held a protest, expressing anger and grief over the child’s death. The protesters blamed the presence of an uncovered manhole for the tragedy, and demanded that the authorities take immediate action to prevent similar incidents.
The protest was held near Hub River Road and the Northern Bypass in Moach Goth. Demonstrators blocked both roads for traffic, resulting in severe traffic congestion in the surrounding areas.
Traffic police officials said that vehicular movement on the Northern Bypass was badly affected, with long queues of vehicles forming on the route. The blockade also caused difficulties for commuters travelling between different parts of the city and areas connected through Hub River Road.
To manage the situation, traffic police diverted vehicles from Hub River Road towards Dabba Morr, 24 Market Saeedabad and Moach Goth, directing motorists to use inner routes to avoid the protest site.
Police personnel reached the area and were present at the protest site to negotiate with the demonstrators and restore traffic movement. Officials attempted to convince the protesters to clear the roads and allow the traffic to resume.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the dangers posed by open and uncovered manholes in Karachi, particularly in densely populated neighbourhoods. Residents have repeatedly called on the relevant civic authorities to ensure that manholes are properly covered and dangerous spots are secured to protect pedestrians, especially children.
Published in The News, July 24th, 2026.
