An eight-year-old boy died after falling into a sewage pit in a village near Arifwala, while another child was rescued alive, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
According to police, the incident occurred in Village 71-EB, where two children fell into the pit dug outside homes for the disposal of wastewater. The area has no proper sewerage or drainage system, forcing residents to dig pits for sewage and wastewater disposal.
Police said the soil around the pit had become soft and suddenly collapsed, causing the children to fall into it.
One of the children, identified as eight-year-old Sikandar, became unconscious due to suffocation after falling into the pit. He was shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) in Arifwala in an unconscious condition, but doctors could not save him and he died during treatment.
The second child was rescued alive from the pit. According to police, the child's mother managed to pull him out.
Residents said that, due to the absence of a proper sewerage system, households in the area have made pits outside their homes to dispose of wastewater. They said the unsafe pits have created a serious threat to residents, particularly children.
The Sadar Police Station has registered a case against those allegedly responsible for negligence on the complaint of the deceased child's father.
Police said further investigation into the incident is underway.
Reporter: Shahzad Ahmed