The search for a 10-year-old visually impaired girl who fell into an open drainage line near Pirana on Ahmedabad’s Vishala-Narol Road has entered its third day, with fire and emergency teams still clearing debris and sewage from the network but yet to locate her.
According to a report by Sandesh, the girl fell into the drainage line at around 3 pm on Saturday near Pirana. The report said the open line was difficult for her to see because she is visually impaired, and that she was swept into the dirty water soon after falling in. Her identity was not disclosed in the supplied report.
The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services teams began search and rescue operations after the incident was reported. The operation has continued for about 72 hours, with personnel working through the drainage line, adjoining chambers and outlets in an effort to find the girl or establish her location.
Rescuers are facing difficult conditions inside the network. The report said the line contains substantial quantities of accumulated waste, sludge and contaminated water, making it dangerous for teams to enter and slowing the search. The flow of water and the volume of material inside the line have also complicated efforts to trace the route taken by the girl.
Fire department teams are using JCB machines, suction equipment and sewage pumps to remove waste from the drainage line. The debris is being cleared so that teams can inspect different sections of the line and reach chambers and outlets further along the network. The report said several teams have been positioned at separate points during the operation.
The incident has also raised anger among local residents over the open drainage infrastructure in the area. The supplied report attributed criticism to residents who have demanded action against those responsible for leaving the line uncovered. It did not provide details of any official inquiry, disciplinary action or civic response beyond the ongoing rescue operation.
The girl’s family has appealed to the authorities to locate her. In comments quoted by Sandesh, relatives said they did not want compensation or government money and only wanted the authorities to find the girl’s body so that they could perform the last rites. The statement reflects the family’s belief that she may not have survived, but the report did not state that authorities had confirmed her death.
The search highlights the immediate risks posed by uncovered or inadequately protected drainage infrastructure in dense urban areas. Such networks combine fast-moving water, narrow chambers, accumulated waste and limited visibility, creating hazards for pedestrians and making rescue operations difficult when a person falls inside. In this case, the continuing operation has depended on heavy machinery and sewage-clearing equipment rather than a rapid recovery.
The search operation remained underway when the report was published. Further developments are expected from the fire and emergency services and civic authorities as teams continue clearing the drainage line and examining its chambers and outlets.
