Ibrahim Shehab Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Parents of child who drowned in a rainwater pool Al-Harazat district are planning to sue Jeddah Municipality for negligence. Seven-year-old Mohammad died after falling into a rainwater drainage canal that has reportedly been a constant threat to residents, especially children. A neighbor mustered courage and tried to rescue the child, but he was unsuccessful. Civil Defense was called to recover the body. Mohammad's mother said she will not pardon those responsible for the death of her child. She said rainwater had been gathering in the area for four months and there were no attempts by concerned authorities to drain the pools. She said she could not sleep in the house because her son's belongings constantly remind her of her loss. Residents of the neighborhood said the rainwater drainage canal had been long neglected, as the entire neighborhood was destined for removal. They added that some houses were already removed and the neighborhood was in complete darkness at night. Mohammad's father said residents submitted a complaint to Jeddah Municipality about the danger of the drainage site, but their complaint went unanswered. He added that he will appoint a lawyer to sue the municipality so that no other children would have such a fate. Mohammad's uncle said after the child drowned, the drainage canal was partially opened by a company to drain the waters. He questioned why such a step was not taken before the child's death and why did government bodies move only after a disaster occurred. He claimed that the whole neighborhood had become hazardous. "In addition to rainwater pools, there are many exposed high voltage electricity boxes. Furthermore, there are many abandoned houses that are partially removed, posing a source of danger to the residents," he said. Waleed Al-Outhali, the family's lawyer, said he would file a case with the Board of Grievances, accusing the municipality of negligence that led to the child's death.
