A tragic incident in the historic Bhati Gate area of Lahore has shocked residents and raised serious questions about public safety. A young mother lost her life after falling into an open manhole, while her 10-month-old daughter remains missing.
The incident occurred near Data Darbar, a busy religious site in Lahore. The woman, who belonged to Shorkot, was visiting the shrine with her infant daughter. According to her cousin Razia, the child slipped from her lap and fell into an uncovered manhole. The mother immediately jumped in to save her child.
Witnesses said there were no warning signs or safety barriers around the manhole. The area was undergoing development work at the time. Locals claimed that several manholes in the area were left open without proper protection.
Rescue 1122 teams started a search operation soon after the incident. After nearly five to six hours, the woman’s body was recovered from a sewer line near Outfall Road. The location was around two kilometers away from the original site.
Despite continuous efforts, the infant could not be found even after 15 to 17 hours. Rescue teams are still searching at three locations. These include Bhati Gate, Outfall Road, and Mohini Road. Around 10 rescue vehicles and 25 workers are involved in the operation.
Rescue officials said the case was unusual. In-charge Rescue Control Farid Zaidi explained that the sewer pipeline was very narrow. He added that water flow was extremely low. This made it difficult to understand how the body traveled such a long distance.
Initially, government departments questioned the incident. WASA officials claimed it was unlikely for someone to fall into such a small manhole. The Punjab government also termed the case a possible fabrication.
However, after the body was recovered, official statements changed. The incident was first reported as a domestic issue. Three people, including the victim’s husband, were briefly detained but later released.
DIG Operations Faisal Kamran later confirmed the incident. He said contradictions in early reports caused confusion and wrongful arrests.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the tragedy. She ordered a fact-finding committee and suspended senior TEPA officials for negligence.
Relatives of the victim blamed authorities and contractors. They said no safety measures were in place. They demanded strict punishment and cancellation of the contractor’s license.
In other news read more about Mother Dies After Falling into Open Drain in Lahore, Search Continues for Missing Baby
Citizens in Lahore have expressed anger over open manholes and poor planning. Experts are calling for stronger monitoring and accountability. The tragedy has highlighted serious flaws in safety systems, as the search for the missing child continues.
