Scores injured as swing collapses in Sahiwal park

Shahbaz suspends the DCO, orders inquiry

MULTAN: As many as 110 people were injured when a swing collapsed in a park in Sahiwal on Thursday.

The Sahiwal District Headquarters Hospital medical superintendent told The Tribune that 60 people were brought to the hospital when the swing collapsed in Kanaan Park.

“Two people were referred to hospitals in Lahore for surgery due to their critical condition,” he said. He said 13 people had been admitted overnight.

“The others were discharged after first-aid.”

A Rescue 1122 spokesman said at least 50 people were taken to private hospitals.



He said the swing fell from a height of 15 feet. “At the time of the incident, more than 50 people were on the swing, of which 40 were injured, mostly women and children.”

“I have never seen something so horrible. One minute everyone was laughing and the next they were screaming,” said Muhammad Ali, a witness.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the DHQ Hospital and met with the injured.

He announced a Rs100,000 compensation for the injured and constituted a three-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee will submit its report on Monday.

The chief minister cancelled leaves of doctors, paramedical staff and district administration officials. “Every worker of the district administration should be available for relief work,” he said.

The chief minister also issued a notice to the DHQ Hospital medical superintendent , saying the hospital was poorly managed.

“It is being run as if it is a zoo,” the chief minister said. He reprimanded the MS for not maintaining cleanliness at the hospital.



The chief minister also suspended the Sahiwal DCO and the deputy district officer following the incident and directed police to register an FIR against them.

The park has been developed by the Parks and Horticulture Authority. It has been shut down in the wake of the incident.

The inquiry team constituted by the chief minister includes SM Bashir, a member of the CM’s Inspection Team, Naseem Nawaz, a local government secretary and PHA Directer General Shakeel Nawaz.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2016.