KARACHI: Two boys drowned while swimming in a pond developed after accumulation of rainwater in an under-construction underpass at busy Punjab Chowrangi, also known as Submarine Chowrangi, on Thursday.

The people of the area blamed the contractor for the incident who took no precautionary measures while constructing the multimillion-rupee project, officials and rescue sources said.

According to Clifton SP Dr Asad Malhi, the boys aged between 12 and 13 years were swimming in the pond when they drowned.

Police were informed about the incident at around 5.15pm. A policeman deployed there and area people retrieved the bodies and shifted them to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

One of the deceased was identified as 12-year-old Aftab Amjad Masih, a resident of the same area.

SP Malhi said police were trying to get post-mortem examination of the bodies conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death. He pointed out that massive excavation work was under way for the underpass where several lines passed.

There was also smell of gas indicating that the pipeline might have been damaged, he said, adding that police had approached the department concerned to get the damaged line repaired to avoid any accident.

A crowd gathered at the place of the incident where heavy deployment of police was made to meet any law and order situation.

Later on, the other victim was identified as Ghulam Mustafa, 13. Both deceased boys were residents of nearby P&T Colony in Gizri.

Gizri police officer Abdul Latif told Dawn that the parents did not want to pursue the case legally and took away the bodies from the JPMC without allowing doctors to conduct post-mortem examination.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2017