A six-month-old baby went missing after a battery-run rickshaw fell into an open drain amid water flow at Kapasgola in Chattogram city last night.

The incident occurred around 8:30pm near Nawab Hotel, said Anwar Hossain, assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence.

According to the fire service, the rickshaw, carrying a woman and her baby, lost control and plunged into the roadside sewer, which had a strong current following a rainfall. The baby was swept away while the woman managed to rescue herself.

"Firefighters from the Chandanpura unit rushed to the spot and are conducting search operations. Due to the strong current in the drain after rain, the baby got washed away," said Anwar Hossain.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain visited the scene around 9:00pm and oversaw the rescue operations.

"Rescuing the missing child is our top priority," he told reporters, adding that teams from the fire service diving units and CCC's cleaning staff were engaged in the effort.

According to locals, the canals and drains of the port city have become death traps. Most of these canals and drains don't have retaining walls or protecting slabs, posing a risk for fatal accidents.