A local court in Karachi has ruled in favor of a family affected by the Shadman Nala incident, ordering the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Central to pay over Rs. 9.9 million in compensation.
The court found both civic bodies responsible for the death of a woman and her infant son, who fell into an open drain during heavy rains in 2022. The victims, riding a motorcycle, were swept into the nala due to the alleged negligence of the concerned authorities.
The complainant's lawyer informed the court that the incident resulted in the death of his client’s wife and two-month-old son, Azlan, whose body was never recovered. He argued that under the Fatal Accidents Act, the family was entitled to compensation.
Senior Civil Judge Zaheer Hussain Mangi observed that maintenance of the sewerage system and public safety were legal responsibilities of the municipal authorities.
The judge stated that the incident occurred due to the negligence of KMC and DMC Central, who failed to fulfill their public duties.
The court ordered both KMC and DMC to pay a total compensation of more than Rs. 9.9 million to the bereaved family.
