LAHORE: Police have arrested three people named in the FIR after a woman and her infant daughter died when they fell into an under-construction sewer line near Data Darbar on Wednesday evening.
The FIR was filed by the woman’s father at Bhatti Gate police station under Section 322 (manslaughter) of the Pakistan Penal Code. In his complaint, the father stated that he received a call from his son-in-law about the incident and immediately went with his son, son-in-law, and a friend to the scene around 2:30am. At the time, the woman’s body had been recovered, while the child’s body was still missing.
According to the FIR, the complainant held the construction project’s manager, the site in-charge, and the safety officer responsible, saying their negligence in leaving the manhole uncovered led to the deaths of his daughter and granddaughter.
“Due to their gross negligence and irresponsibility, my daughter and my granddaughter lost their lives,” the complaint read.
Lahore Operations SSP Mohammad Tauqir confirmed that the suspects named in the FIR had been arrested. He noted that the arrests came after directives from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who ordered that the scope of action be expanded to ensure all responsible individuals were held accountable.
Earlier on Thursday, the body of the child, reported to be between nine and ten months old, was recovered by Rescue 1122’s diving team from Saggian, approximately five kilometres from Bhatti Chowk. The mother’s body was found during the early hours at a disposal station on Outfall Road.
Authorities said the woman and her daughter had reportedly fallen into the open manhole after dismounting a rickshaw. Conflicting reports initially emerged, with some officials doubting that the water level was sufficient to cause drowning.
Punjab DIG Operations Faisal Kamran clarified that the water flow had been faster during peak hours when the incident occurred, and receded later, accounting for the initial confusion.
Officials also noted that statements from district management initially shifted blame to the woman’s husband, who was subsequently interrogated. The role of the project managers remained under scrutiny, with the under-construction sewer pipeline left uncovered despite heavy pedestrian traffic in the area.
In response, two officials of Tepa, a subsidiary of the Lahore Development Authority, were suspended with immediate effect over the uncovered manholes. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also constituted a fact-finding committee to submit a report within 24 hours.
The police and authorities emphasized that the High Court Bar Association, local police, and rescue teams coordinated throughout the operation to ensure proper investigation. Rescue teams and officials remained on-site until the child’s body was recovered, ensuring evidence and safety measures were documented.
This incident follows a similar tragedy last month in Bahawalpur, where a seven-year-old boy died after falling into an open manhole in Dhanote town near Lodhran city. Authorities highlighted the ongoing need for proper safety measures at construction sites, particularly in crowded urban areas, to prevent such accidents in the future.
Antalya Nakliyat