Rein Bazar manhole scare sparks GHMC-HYDRAA-HMWSSB blame game
Hyderabad: A five-year-old girl had a narrow escape after falling into an uncovered manhole in the Moula Ka Chilla neighbourhood of Rein Bazar on Thursday morning, sparking a blame game among civic agencies. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has pointed fingers at the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) for negligence, while HYDRAA, in turn, has passed the buck to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).
How a toddler survived a manhole fall?
Going further into details, around 8:00 AM, a five-year-old girl on her way to school accidentally stepped into an uncovered manhole in the Moula Ka Chilla neighbourhood. Alerted by her cries, a woman passerby rushed to the spot and, in a timely act of bravery, lifted the child to safety. She was quickly joined by local residents and pedestrians who ensured the girl was safely retrieved. Miraculously, the girl escaped with only minor injuries and is reported to be in a stable condition.
Officials from the GHMC responded promptly to the incident. The Deputy Commissioner of Circle-7 (Santosh Nagar) and the Executive Engineer of Division-7 immediately rushed to the spot. They later visited the child’s residence to check on her health and well-being.
In its ‘factual report’ on the incident from the office of the Zonal Commissioner Charminar zone, GHMC, the GHMC stated that “the manhole cover had been opened by a HYDRAA team on September 10, 2025, for cleaning purposes.” The report alleged that the team left the site without replacing the cover, thereby creating a hazardous public safety risk. The matter has been formally brought to the notice of HYDRAA authorities, urging them to take immediate precautionary measures to prevent such negligent incidents in the future.
Who left Moula Ka Chilla’s manhole open?
Further details emerging from the investigation reveal that the local corporator ordered the manhole cover removal to drain water and clear sediment. Due to hardened sediment, HYDRAA requested jetting machines from HMWSB to clear the blockage.
However, in a statement, HYDRAA shifted blame, saying, “Our preliminary investigation revealed that after completing the work, the HMWSSB crew failed to secure the manhole cover before leaving the site. Although HYDRAA’s second-shift staff later attempted to cover the manhole, local residents requested that it remain open, as they felt the drainage issue had not been fully resolved.”
Coincidentally, the incident occurred on a significant day for the city’s civic infrastructure oversight when Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS) and a former Supreme Court judge, was touring the GHMC to review its initiatives in strengthening road safety and urban maintenance.
For any issues concerning open or unsafe manholes, the public is urged to contact HYDRAA immediately at 9000113667. HYDRAA has issued a directive to its field staff emphasizing that manhole covers must only be removed when absolutely necessary, such as during heavy rain for drainage purposes. Once the task is completed, covers must be securely replaced without delay. Staff have been instructed to remain alert and ensure that all safety protocols are strictly followed while manholes are open.
HYDRAA officials stated, “Even a single uncovered manhole can pose a serious risk to public safety. We urge citizens to report any such incidents or negligence directly to us on our helpline number 9000113667.”
