Punjab Chief Minister Orders Arrests After Mother and Daughter Die in Open Manhole Accident

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered immediate arrests and dismissals following a tragic incident where a mother and daughter fell into an open manhole. The incident occurred when the pair boarded a rickshaw near an ongoing construction site in Lahore, an area with multiple open manholes, poor lighting, and inadequate safety measures.

Maryam Nawaz criticized authorities at the site for failing to enforce basic safety standards. She stated that this “amounts to murder” and noted that no assistant commissioner had visited the site or implemented any safety or parking regulations. The chief minister emphasized that such incidents could disproportionately affect ordinary citizens in a city like Lahore, calling it unacceptable.

She also announced Rs10 million in compensation for the affected family would be provided by the contractor responsible for the site. Authorities have recorded statements from the family and begun collecting evidence from the scene. Maryam Nawaz ordered for immediate arrests of the project director, consultant, and other responsible officials with dismissal from service for those related to the incident.

Authorities also filed criminal negligence cases against all parties found responsible. The chief minister pledged to hold all responsible parties accountable, emphasizing that public development projects are meant to serve citizens, not endanger their lives.

The tragic accident near Bhatti Gate, close to Data Darbar, left a mother and her daughter dead after they fell into an open manhole. Initially, confusion and conflicting reports caused claims of the fall’s non-existence. However, upon confirmation from DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran, who identified the victim as Saadia, officials began their investigation.

Rescue 1122 was mobilized promptly following a call, with CCTV footage capturing the incident in detail. The video confirmed that Saadia and her daughter were seen arriving on a rickshaw, parking there, then proceeding through Data Darbar when they fell into the manhole while leaving after paying respects at the shrine.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari initially dismissed reports of the fall as “fake,” praising Rescue 1122 for their prompt response. The DIG confirmed the family was seen shopping near Data Darbar around 6:47 pm, reached the shrine area by 7:22 pm, and called for help at 7:30 pm when they fell into the manhole.

Following preliminary investigations, multiple administrative officials confirmed Saadia’s husband and brother-in-law were briefly taken into custody but released immediately. Preliminary reports indicated that the mother-in-law was seen calling for help upon arrival at the scene.