A search operation entered its second day on Wednesday after a four-year-old boy was swept away by strong currents in Karachi’s Lyari River, while a teenager who jumped in to save him drowned during the rescue attempt.

According to rescue officials, four-year-old Shahvez was riding his bicycle in a street in Sohrab Goth on Tuesday when he lost control and fell into the Lyari River along with the bicycle. The child was carried away by the fast-flowing water.

Witnessing the incident, 17-year-old Gulab immediately jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue the child but was also swept away by the strong current.

After several hours of search efforts, rescue teams recovered Gulab’s body. However, the search for Shahvez remained underway for a second consecutive day.

Rescue authorities said the operation was being hampered by accumulated garbage in the river, marshy terrain and the strong water flow, but efforts to locate the missing child were continuing.

Residents said several similar incidents had occurred at the same stretch of the Lyari River in the past, blaming the lack of adequate safety measures for repeated tragedies.

According to the district administration, the Deputy Commissioner Central reached the scene with his team and supervised the ongoing rescue operation while assisting relief efforts.

The administration said that although the incident occurred outside Central district’s jurisdiction, officials extended full support to the rescue operation on humanitarian grounds.

The Assistant Commissioner of New Karachi also remained at the site, coordinating with rescue agencies and monitoring the operation.

Authorities said the search and rescue operation would continue until it was completed.

Shahvez’s family remained at the scene, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the rescue efforts. Family members said Shahvez was the youngest among four siblings.