Manholes become death traps for bikers

RAWALPINDI:

Thieves took away all manholes at the Committee Chowk underpass on Murree Road for the second time in the last two months, endangering the lives of motorists, especially motorcyclists.

After sunset, the deep and open manholes have become death traps for the motorcyclists and caused injuries to several of them in the last 10 days.

After the first theft, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) announced that the covers of the manholes had been fitted a second time with non-openable locks and claimed that now no one could open these lids and remove them.

However, unknown people stole the 'protected' lids by breaking the locks. The uncovered manholes have been filled with garbage and have been causing everyday traffic accidents.

According to a Wasa spokesperson, the lids of all the newly stolen manholes have been made and they will be re-installed this week.

He claimed that the agency would also create a monitoring and security system for the newly installed lids, saying the new manhole covers would be locked in a new manner.

Apart from the Committee Chowk underpass, unknown thieves also stole lids of dozens of manholes in various union councils across the city. Thieves usually sell them at throw-away prices.