KARACHI – A 14-year-old girl drowned after falling into an open section of a Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) trunk main near Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Steel Town, on Tuesday evening. Despite an extensive search operation by Rescue 1122, her body has yet to be recovered.
The Incident
The victim, identified as Sana, daughter of Nazir, a resident of a nearby Goth (village), had gone to the 72-inch diameter pipeline to fetch water for her household. According to initial reports, she lost her footing and fell into the massive water channel. Locals informed authorities that a portion of the pipeline remains uncovered, serving as a makeshift water source for the surrounding settlements.
Rescue Challenges
Rescue 1122 teams were dispatched to the site near Jokhio Goth immediately after the incident was reported at 7:00 PM. The operation faced significant hurdles as the line carries fresh water from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi with immense force. The water level in the pipeline is estimated to be between 25 to 30 feet deep, and the search was briefly suspended late Tuesday night due to darkness before resuming early Wednesday morning.
Current Status
A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 stated that water rescue and scuba teams are currently searching downstream toward the filtration plant. Due to the high velocity of the water, there is a fear that the body may have been swept several kilometers away. Rescuers are currently using specialized equipment and containers to probe for the body within the pipeline. As of Wednesday afternoon, the search operation is still underway.
