By Our Correspondent
LAHORE — Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered the arrest of senior Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TIPA) officials following the deaths of a woman and her infant daughter who fell into an uncovered manhole near Bhatti Gate.
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The chief minister received continuous briefings on the rescue operation and summoned police, Rescue 1122, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and district officials to submit a full, impartial fact-finding report. She warned that any agency or official found to have shared misleading or contradictory information would face strict action.
Maryam directed that Rs10 million be paid to the victims’ family, with the amount to be recovered from the project contractor.
She also ordered the dismissal of the area’s WASA in-charge and instructed the provincial police chief to submit a compliance report after the arrests.
Police and rescue officials said 24-year-old Sadia and her 10-month-old daughter, Rida Fatima, fell into the open manhole near Data Darbar during ongoing development work. The incident was reported Wednesday evening, triggering a large-scale rescue effort involving multiple emergency vehicles and dozens of rescuers.
Sadia’s body was recovered first from the sewer system near Outfall Road, several kilometres from the site. The infant’s body was found after a 16-hour search. Authorities said the strong sewage flow carried both bodies away from the point of the fall.
A high-level committee led by the additional chief secretary has been tasked with completing an inquiry within 24 hours.
Bhatti Gate police registered a case under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Sadia’s father, naming the project manager, safety in-charge and site in-charge for alleged criminal negligence in leaving the manhole uncovered.
Officials said initial speculation about foul play and claims that the incident was “fake” were dismissed after forensic reviews, CCTV footage and rescue findings supported the conclusion that the deaths were accidental.
