Rescue efforts entered their third consecutive day on Thursday as teams continued searching for seven-year-old Wisaal Farhad, who went missing after falling into an uncovered sewage drain near Kacha Stop on IJP Road, Rawalpindi. The child, a Grade-II student from Gulistan Peker, slipped into the drain filled with rainwater and debris around 8:15 pm on Wednesday while playing near Street No. 14.
Since the incident, Rescue 1122 personnel, police, and local volunteers have been engaged in an extensive search operation. Five rescue vehicles, including divers, were deployed immediately after the emergency call. The search began at the point where Wisaal fell and extended downstream along the drainage system.
Despite persistent efforts, the boy had not been located by Thursday night. Rescue teams are relying on manual search techniques such as probing with sticks and diving support, hindered by challenging weather and obstructive debris within the drain. Wisaal’s father arranged additional equipment, including a loader and wooden planks, to aid the operation and appealed for long-term safety measures, urging authorities to cover and clean the drain to prevent future tragedies.
Police temporarily suspended the search late Wednesday night due to poor visibility but resumed early Thursday morning. Residents were advised to stay alert and inspect nearby streets, homes, and outbuildings in case the child had moved away from the drainage channel.
In a significant development, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif took notice of the case and ordered all available resources to be mobilized for the rescue. She directed the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi to personally oversee the operation and ensure coordination among departments. The chief minister also requested continuous, minute-by-minute updates on the progress.
Officials confirmed that search teams remain active along the drainage route, working tirelessly as time remains critical in locating the missing boy.
