KARACHI: A minor boy was feared to have drowned in an open water line of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) in the Scheme-33 area on Friday afternoon as rescue workers continued efforts to recover the body till late in the night.

East Deputy Commissioner Nasrullah Abbasi told Dawn that the boy, identified as 11-year-old Zahid Mohammed Khan, had been swimming in the water line in Al-Makkah Society, adjacent to Al-Azhar Garden, when the incident occurred at around 2pm.

He said teams of Rescue-1122, the Edhi Foundation and other agencies were deployed but recovery efforts were hampered by the strong flow in the large water line.

KWSC officials, who visited the site, said the current could carry the body towards Jauhar Block-1, near Continental Bakery, where an iron grill has been installed. However, they estimated it could take one to two days for the body to reach that point.

The district administration has established a camp there, with rescue teams on standby.

Responding to a question, the DC said he had directed officials to ensure the water line is properly covered to prevent similar incidents.

He said KWSC authorities informed him that slabs had previously been installed but these may have been removed by local residents or drug addicts.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026