Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday was briefed about the tragic death of a woman and her minor daughter who fell into an open manhole at a construction site in Lahore, with officials terming the incident a result of “criminal negligence.”
During the briefing, the chief minister was informed that construction work was underway at the site where the accident occurred. Rescue teams responded promptly after the incident and recovered the woman's body within hours. However, the body of the girl was recovered a day after the incident.
Officials said the sewer line in the area is unusually high and the water flow pattern had changed due to ongoing construction. The victims, who had come to Lahore to visit relatives, were reportedly travelling on a rickshaw before the accident. Due to heavy traffic and noise in the area, no one heard any sound when the woman fell.
The briefing revealed that the accident site was dark, with no lighting arrangements, and several manholes were left uncovered. Authorities acknowledged that the tragedy might have been prevented had proper lighting and safety measures been in place. No incriminating evidence of foul play was found, but officials said that everyone present at the site bears responsibility for the negligence.
Addressing a media briefing later, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and observed a moment of grief. “This is criminal negligence. Construction works are not meant to kill people,” she said.
She questioned why no one ensured that the manholes were properly covered and criticized the lack of basic safety arrangements at the construction site. “Safety measures are taken at construction sites around the world. Such an incident is unbearable in a city like Lahore,” she remarked.
Maryam raised concerns about the absence of lighting and the use of panaflex sheets to close off the site without ensuring public safety. She questioned why Safe City cameras and CCTV footage were not immediately reviewed after the incident.
She directed the authorities, including TEPA and WASA, to identify those responsible and take strict action. “Why were the names of those responsible from WASA not put forward? Why were arrests not made?” she asked.
The chief minister told the contractor to pay Rs10 million to the affected family and directed the officials to hold those responsible for this negligence accountable for their laxity.