Three-year-old child dies after falling into open drain in Chattogram

A three-year-old child died after falling into an open drain in the Halishahar area of Chattogram city today (9 July).

The tragic incident occurred in the E Block of Halishahar around noon.

After the child went missing, a team of divers from the Fire Service recovered the body around 4pm, confirmed Abdur Razzak, deputy assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Incidents of people, including children, falling into open drains and canals in Chattogram are sadly not uncommon. The city has witnessed numerous injuries and fatalities due to these hazardous conditions over the years.

On 18 April this year, a six-month-old baby died after the battery-run rickshaw she and her mother and grandmother were on fell into an open drain in the city's Kapasgola area.

While locals managed to rescue the two women, the baby was swept away by the strong current. Her body was recovered the following morning from the Chaktai Canal.

In another heartbreaking case on 27 August 2023, an 18-month-old boy, Yasin Arafat, fell into an open drain in the Agrabad Rongi Para area.

After a 17-hour-long rescue operation, his lifeless body was found.

Earlier on 25 August 2021, a vegetable vendor named Saleh Ahmed went missing after falling into a drain during heavy rain in the Muradpur area.

Despite an extensive search, his body was never found.

On 27 September of the same year, Chattogram University student Seherin Mahbub Sadia died after falling into an open drain while walking in the Agrabad area.

Later, on 7 December, a child named Kamal went missing after falling into a drain in the Sholoshohor area. His body was recovered three days later from the Muradpur area.