Missing Manholes Turn Hyderabad Streets Deadly

The death of a four-year-old child who fell into an open manhole on September 5, 2024, stands as a painful reminder of the danger posed by uncovered drains.

Complaints from several neighborhood's show how the issue persists despite repeated appeals. “The manhole cover is damaged, please replace it immediately as it is dangerous. It’s still not resolved after 13 days. Please take action,” said Nagavendra Reddy from Filmnagar.

In Shivrampally, the manhole near Pillar 258 beside Akbari Masjid in Indiranagar Colony is reportedly sinking. “It could collapse any time. It’s an accident waiting to happen,” said Mohamed Fayaz.

Residents in Moosarambagh complain that poor drainage compounds the threat. “Our drainage lines are blocked and many of the manholes in Shalivahananagar are damaged. The area becomes unsafe every time it rains,” said Srikanth.

In Attapur’s Huda Colony, residents have been seeking the replacement of a broken manhole for nearly two weeks. “For the past 12 days, our requests have been ignored. This is creating serious problems for the community,” said Vivek Agarwal.

Despite clear instructions not to open manholes during floods, some still do so to drain waterlogging. “Just yesterday, a car slipped into one in the Old City. In my colony, I reported 10 damaged manholes, but officials cited budget issues and repaired only a few. These works must be done before the monsoon, not after accidents. Prevention is better than cure, but sadly, authorities are reacting only after tragedies,” said Sai Teja, activist and resident of Pragatinagar.

Broken or damaged manholes can be spotted across residential lanes, often left unattended until complaints pile up.

A senior Water Board official maintained that the department responds swiftly when such cases are reported. “Whenever damaged or missing manholes come to our notice, we take prompt action. We urge citizens to report them immediately and strongly advise against removing covers on their own,” the official said.