Girl saved by mother after falling into open manhole in Yakutpura; HYDRAA orders probe

Hyderabad: A major mishap was averted in the Yakutpura division of the Old City when a young girl accidentally fell into an open manhole at Moulaka Chilla on Thursday morning.

Thanks to her mother’s swift reaction, the child escaped unhurt.

HYDRAA launches probe

HYDRAA said that it is taking the incident seriously and has launched a probe into the circumstances leading to the lapse.

HYDRAA officials immediately began an internal inquiry to determine who was responsible for leaving the manhole uncovered.

CCTV footage from Wednesday, when the manhole was first opened, up until Thursday morning’s incident, is being scrutinised.

A coordination meeting with officials of HYDRAA, the Water Board and GHMC has also been scheduled for Friday to fix accountability.

Why was the manhole left open?

Preliminary reports suggest that the manhole had been opened under instructions from the local corporator to clear years of silt deposits that had hardened inside.

The Water Board deployed jetting machines to remove the sludge. However, after completing the work, the manhole cover was allegedly not replaced.

HYDRAA’s sanitation staff attempted to close the cover during their second shift on Wednesday evening, but locals reportedly objected, saying the cleaning work was incomplete. As a result, the manhole was left uncovered overnight.

Unfortunately, the following morning, while on her way to school, a child fell into it. The mother, who was accompanying her, managed to pull her out immediately, preventing any serious harm.

Sanitation staff must never leave an open manhole unattended

HYDRAA expressed relief that the child escaped without major injuries but stressed that such negligence would not be tolerated.

It has now been mandated that whenever manholes are kept open—particularly during monsoon months for drainage purposes—sanitation staff must remain at the site until the cover is replaced.

Helpline for public alerts

HYDRAA has appealed to citizens to stay vigilant and inform authorities if they notice any open manholes left unattended.

People can report such cases by calling 9000113667. Officials assured that all necessary precautions will be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents.