Maryam Nawaz orders arrests of officials after mother, daughter die falling into open manhole

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered the immediate arrest of the project director, consultant and other officials following the deaths of a mother and her daughter who fell into an open manhole in Lahore.

She also directed the dismissal of the project director and related staff and called for criminal negligence cases against all responsible parties.

The tragic incident occurred when the mother and daughter were boarding a rickshaw near an ongoing construction site.

According to officials, the area had multiple open manholes, poor lighting, and inadequate safety measures. The mother’s body was recovered on Wednesday, while the daughter’s body was found on Thursday.

Maryam Nawaz said the deaths were the result of extreme negligence by the authorities at the site.

“This is tantamount to murder,” she said, criticizing the Lahore administration, the Wasa Managing Director, LDA Director General, and site supervisors for failing to enforce basic safety standards.

She noted that the assistant commissioner had never visited the site, and no safety or parking regulations had been implemented.

The chief minister highlighted that the tragedy could have been prevented with simple precautions, such as covering the manholes, placing warning signs, or controlling traffic in the area.

She expressed deep concern over the fact that similar incidents could disproportionately affect ordinary citizens. “In a city like Lahore, this is unacceptable,” she said.

In response to the incident, Maryam Nawaz announced that the affected family will receive Rs10 million in compensation, to be provided by the contractor responsible for the site.

Authorities have also recorded statements from the family and begun collecting evidence from the site.

She ordered for immediate arrest of the project director, consultant, and other responsible officials and dismissal from service of the project director and related staff.

The chief minister also ordered filing of criminal negligence cases against all parties found responsible

The chief minister emphasized that public development projects are meant to serve citizens, not endanger lives, and pledged to hold all responsible parties accountable.

The tragic accident near Bhatti Gate, close to Data Darbar, left the mother and her daughter dead after they fell into an open manhole.

According to officials, the incident occurred Wednesday night when the family was leaving Data Darbar.

Initial confusion and conflicting reports had led to claims that the accident did not happen.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari initially dismissed reports of the fall, calling them “fake,” and praised Rescue 1122 for their prompt response.

However, DIG Operations Lahore, Faisal Kamran, confirmed the deaths, identifying the mother as Saadia.

Rescue 1122 was immediately mobilized after receiving the call, and the mother’s body was recovered from the Outfall Road disposal area.

CCTV footage from nearby Safe City cameras captured the incident in detail.

The footage verified the account provided by the husband, showing the family arriving on a rickshaw, where they parked, their route through Data Darbar, and the moment of the accident.

The DIG confirmed the family was leaving after paying respects at the shrine when the mother and daughter fell into the open manhole.

Authorities claimed that the husband of the woman was not in custody but was questioned to gather information about the incident.

Preliminary reports indicated the family was seen shopping near Data Darbar at 6:47 pm, reached the shrine area by 7:22 pm, and by 7:32 pm, Rescue 1122 received the emergency call. Rescue personnel arrived within four minutes.

The reports also noted that the mother-in-law was seen calling for help at the scene.

Following statements from multiple administrative officials, the husband and brother-in-law were briefly taken into custody for questioning, but released immediately after preliminary investigations.

DIG Faisal Kamran personally oversaw the recovery of the child’s body late Wednesday night, confirming the deaths and putting an end to rumors.