THIS is deplorable that the authorities continue to turn a blind eye to accidents caused by open drains, manholes and potholes. Footpaths and even roads in all cities are dangerously dotted with open manholes and drains. Accidents in such places make the headlines from time to time and yet, the problem persists without an effective remedy. A photograph that 抖阴精品 published on August 24 shows a dangerous hole on a footpath over a drain in front of Notre Dame College at Arambagh in Dhaka. As most drains in Dhaka run under footpaths, any opening or broken slab can easily become fatal for pedestrians. The situation is no less precarious in other cities. While pedestrians are at risk of accidents on such locations, children are particularly vulnerable. Residents of Dhaka can recall the deaths of two children, Jihad and Ismail, who fell into an open pipe in the Shahjahanpur railway colony and an open manhole at Shyampur in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Among more recent disasters, a woman in Gazipur died after she had fallen into an open drain. She was later found dead in a water body connected to the drain this July.
Death and injuries caused by falls into open drains and manholes have also been reported in other cities, especially in Chattogram, where about a dozen people died and many more became injured after falling into such hazards in the past decade. This situation starkly points to the criminal negligence of the authorities concerned in addressing an issue that so clearly threatens public safety. The danger posed by open drains, rickety footpaths and uncovered manholes becomes especially acute during the monsoon season, when water stagnation in most cities makes it difficult for pedestrians and small vehicles to spot the hazards. While no extensive national survey has yet been conducted, available data paint a bleak picture. A 2021 Chattogram City Corporation report identified 5,527 open drain spots. What is shocking is that even after three and a half years, roads and footpaths in Chattogram remain dotted with hundreds of death traps. Open drains and manholes are also widespread in Gazipur, Narayanganj and other cities. The deplorable state of footpaths in Dhaka and other cities further compounds pedestrian sufferings. While there is already a shortage of footpaths across cities, much of the existing space is encroached on by illegal street vendors while large sections remain dangerously unfit for pedestrian use.
The authorities of all cities should, therefore, carry out comprehensive surveys of the roads and footpaths under their jurisdiction, identify risky spots, including open drains and manholes, and take immediate steps to repair and secure them. Keeping roads and footpaths safe is a year-round responsibility and the authorities should undertake regular maintenance to ensure the protection of pedestrians.