In yet another devastating incident exposing municipal inadequacies, a doctor lost his life after falling into a storm drain near the Baloch Colony bridge during torrential rain in Karachi. This recent fatality brings the death toll to three in the aftermath of the city’s relentless downpour, shedding light on the persistent challenges faced by municipal bodies.
The deceased, identified as 50-year-old Shaukat Naguri, a resident of Shah Latif Town, and a father of a young daughter, tragically met his demise after falling into a rain drain near Shahrah Faisal Baloch Colony Bridge. Shaukat, also known as a homeopathic doctor, worked in buying and selling textile machines.
According to SP Jamshed Quarter Alina Rajpar, the incident occurred during the stormy rain on Saturday night, adding another tragic chapter to the city’s struggle with drainage and safety issues. Faisal, a friend of the deceased, shared that Shaukat had a routine of taking bus number 16 to his home in Shah Latif Town after work, but on that fateful night, he met an untimely end near the Shell petrol pump, presumably falling into the drain.
Expressing his grief, Faisal, outside the Jinnah Hospital mortuary, recounted the close friendship with the deceased and their shared work in loading machines. He emphasized the need for accountability, urging those in power to empathize with the pain of losing a loved one and to take concrete actions to prevent such tragedies.
Shaukat Naguri’s demise adds to the growing toll of lives lost during the recent heavy rains in Karachi. Earlier, the bodies of 45-year-old Syed Muhammad Fakhr Alam and 35-year-old Bashir Khan were found in separate incidents, further underscoring the urgent need for improved infrastructure and effective municipal measures to ensure the safety of citizens.
As Karachi mourns the loss of yet another valuable life to the city’s drainage challenges, the call for accountability and swift, tangible actions to address infrastructure gaps becomes increasingly urgent. The sorrowful incidents highlight the fragility of life when faced with the inadequacies of municipal systems, prompting a collective call for responsible governance and improved safety measures in the face of adverse weather conditions.
