Karachi court orders to pay Rs9.9 million to kin of mother, son duo who died by falling into drain

KARACHI (Dunya News) - A local court in Karachi has directed the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) and District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Central (Shadman) to pay Rs9.9 million in compensation to a man who suffered the tragic loss of his wife and two-month-old son, Azlan, during the 2022 monsoon rains.

The heartbreaking incident took place in the Shadman area when the family, riding a motorcycle, fell into an open drain that lacked any protective barriers. Both the mother and her infant son drowned, and the body of the two-month-old was never recovered, adding to the family’s grief.

Senior Civil Judge Central, Zaheer Hussain Mangi, pronounced the verdict, stating that KMC and DMC Central were negligent in their responsibility to maintain safe public infrastructure.

The court found that the municipal authorities failed to secure the drainage system, especially during the heavy monsoon season, which directly led to the fatal accident.

Advocate Usman Farooq, representing the plaintiff, argued that the absence of safety measures, such as covers or barriers on the drain, was a clear breach of the municipal bodies’ duty to protect citizens. The judge emphasized that this negligence caused the devastating loss of life.

The court’s ruling mandates KMC and DMC Central to pay over Rs9.9 million in damages to the heirs of the deceased as compensation for their immense loss.

This case highlights ongoing issues with Karachi’s drainage system, as similar incidents, like cars being swept away in drains in areas like Saidpur during heavy rains, have raised concerns about the city’s infrastructure.