KWSC launches helpline for open manholes complaint in Karachi

KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has launched a helpline for citizens to report open manholes, promising to address complaints within 24 hours.

According to KWSC, citizens can complain on number 1334 regarding open manholes, and the executive engineer will be bound to provide manhole covers within 24 hours.

The concerned officer would then be bound to submit a compliance report to the chief engineer. The concerned officer would also then provide an update to the helpline staff.

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If the concerned officer fails to readdress the complaint, the related executive engineers will be held accountable, the spokesperson said. 

Data from Jinnah, Civil, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospitals reveals that emergency departments report around 37 sewer fall incidents annually, often involving severe injuries.

Earlier this week, a five-year-old child Adab, died after falling into an open manhole in Shah Faisal Colony. This was the first incident of this year.

In 2024, 19 cases of children falling into open manholes were reported across Karachi, resulting in 19 deaths. Despite the repeated occurrences of such accidents, the government has yet to take substantial action to prevent these avoidable fatalities.