Boy dies after falling into lidless manhole

DC suspended, contractor, sub-engineer under investigation

LODHRAN:

In Dhanot area, a seven-year-old boy, Rehan, lost his life after falling into an open manhole on Saturday.

Taking action following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the incident and Deputy Commissioner Lodhran Dr Lubna Nazir has been suspended.

An inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the case, headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner General Liaqat Ali Gilani, with members including Assistant Commissioner Kehrow Paka Asghar Iqbal Leghari and Deputy Director Planning Muhammad Zafar.

The committee has been directed to present facts and identify those responsible within 24 hours.

According to reports, seven-year-old Rehan, the only brother of three sisters, was on his way with his father to have breakfast at Saeed Chowk when he accidentally fell into the uncovered manhole.

Locals immediately called Rescue 1122, whose team conducted a rescue operation lasting over an hour. The child was taken to Lodhran District Hospital, but despite efforts, he could not be saved.

The preliminary report points to the contractor and senior sub-engineer of the Muzaffargarh Company road project as responsible for the incident.

Officials from the District Council revealed that on November 7, the Public Health Department handed over a sewerage scheme on Kehrow Paka Road, Lodhran, to the Highway Department.

The contractor had been working with heavy machinery on the road under the CM Initiative, which led to damage to the sewerage manholes. A formal letter had been sent to the Highway Department warning that the site posed serious risk to life.

The Highway Department had tendered the manhole covers and initiated raising work on November 26. Work at the site had been suspended for four days prior to the accident.