Loud Thinking

Preventing deaths of children and adults in open manholes requires a mix of engineering fixes, governance, and community action. One layer alone isn’t enough.

1. Engineering & Infrastructure (most critical)

These prevent accidents even when humans fail.

• Lockable, tamper-proof manhole covers:

• Heavy, interlocking, or bolted covers that cannot be removed casually or stolen.

• Hinged or chained covers:

• So, a cover can’t be fully displaced and left open.

Raised or sealed rims:

Prevent waterlogging and accidental slips.

Load-bearing, standardized covers:

So temporary wooden/metal sheets are never used.

Smart sensors (where feasible):

Low-cost IoT sensors that alert authorities when a manhole is opened or displaced.

This is the single biggest life-saving step.

2. Visibility & Immediate Risk Reduction

When a manhole must be open:

• High-visibility barricades (not stones or branches)
• Reflective tape, cones, and warning signs
• Solar or battery-powered blinking lights at night
• Temporary steel grates that allow work but prevent falls

Open = Protected. No exceptions.

3. Maintenance & Accountability

Deaths often happen because “someone was supposed to close it.”

• Digital logging of maintenance work
• Open → work → close → photo proof → supervisor sign-off

• Time limits on openings (e.g., auto-alerts if open too long)
• Clear legal responsibility assigned to a named department or contractor
• Heavy penalties for negligence, not just inquiries after deaths

Accountability saves lives more than posters do.

4. Preventing Cover Theft

A huge hidden cause.

• Non-resale materials (fiber-reinforced plastic instead of iron)
• Serial-numbered covers
• Scrap-dealer regulation and audits
• Community reward systems for reporting stolen or missing covers

If it can’t be sold, it won’t be stolen.

5. Urban Design & Child Safety

Especially important near homes and schools.

• Manholes away from play areas
• Protective railings in high-risk zones
• School-area audits after monsoons
• Covered drainage systems instead of open designs

6. Public Reporting & Rapid Response

People often see danger but don’t know whom to tell.

• Single emergency helpline / app
• QR codes on poles nearby to report issues
• Guaranteed response time (e.g., barricade within 2 hours)

Fast action prevents the next death.

7. Education (supporting role, not the main solution)

Useful, but never a substitute for safety.

• Teaching children to avoid open drains
• Training workers on safe practices
• Public campaigns during rainy seasons

Education helps — infrastructure protects.

Bottom line:

Deaths from open manholes are 100% preventable.

When they happen, it’s not an accident — it’s a systems failure.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore – Pakistan

+92 321 9402157

3^rd February, 2026

nayyarahmad51@gmail.com The writer is a senior corporate leader and strategic analyst. His thought-provoking visionary insights have reshaped global discourse, capturing the attention of world leaders. His writings have not only resonated with heads of state and governments but have also influenced the foreign policies of the United States and other major powers.