CM Maryam Decries Lahore Drain Tragedy as Criminal Negligence, Takes Swift Action
In a tragic incident that has shocked Lahore, the bodies of a young woman and her infant daughter were recovered from an open drainage channel near Bhati Gate after an extensive rescue operation. Officials reported that the 24-year-old woman's body was found approximately three kilometres away near Outfall Road, while her 10-month-old daughter's body was located nearly 17 hours later in the Saggian area, following overnight efforts by rescue divers.
CCTV Footage and Timeline of the Fatal Incident
Preliminary analysis of CCTV footage revealed that the woman, along with her husband and child, were seen shopping near Data Darbar around 6:47pm. The footage further shows the family arriving in front of Data Darbar at 7:22pm and subsequently moving towards the old Bird Market by 7:30pm. Moments later, at 7:32pm, an emergency call was made to Rescue 1122, reporting that the woman and child had fallen into a drain.
Police confirmed the timeline using Safe City cameras and verified statements from the woman's husband. The footage indicated no signs of foul play, supporting the conclusion that the incident was accidental. Initial findings suggest the woman and her baby were sitting on the edge of an uncovered drain when they slipped and fell inside.
Rescue Efforts and Controversial Turns
Rescue teams responded within four minutes of the emergency call and continued operations throughout the night. However, the case took a controversial turn when rescue officials questioned the technical possibility of drowning at the identified sewer point. The woman's father alleged murder, leading police to briefly detain the husband and two others. All were later released after CCTV evidence and other findings failed to support the claim.
Further confusion arose after an audio message, attributed to a Rescue 1122 officer, surfaced expressing doubts about the incident. Rescue authorities have launched an internal probe to determine why the message was shared and whether standard procedures were followed.
CM Maryam's Strong Response and Directives
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed strong indignation over the fatal Bhati Gate manhole incident, holding the district administration, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), WASA, and other concerned departments collectively responsible for what she described as "criminal negligence." Chairing an emergency meeting at Lahore Airport lounge upon her return from Bhakkar, the chief minister ordered the removal from service and arrest of four officials.
"This is Punjab. It is not a place where someone falls and dies and no one cares. I am answerable here, and so are you," CM Maryam told officials during the meeting. She directed the contractor to pay Rs10 million in compensation to the husband of the deceased woman and instructed the government to provide him with a taxi to support his livelihood.
Immediate Safety Measures and Criticism
Maryam Nawaz ordered that all open manholes and excavations across the province be immediately covered, properly illuminated at night, and fully secured. She also directed the installation of temporary mobile or wireless cameras wherever Safe City cameras have been removed due to ongoing construction work.
The chief minister expressed complete dissatisfaction with the performance of the concerned institutions, noting that Bhati Gate is a prominent area of Lahore, frequently visited by people from across the country and abroad. She observed that after construction work was halted, the manhole was left uncovered, terming it an act of extreme negligence.
"Putting up banners and flexes is not safe. Who will read them in the dark?" she questioned, adding that no meaningful inspection had been carried out by the assistant commissioner.
Condemnation of Confusion and Support for Bereaved Family
CM Maryam criticised attempts to create confusion after the incident, stating that instead of extending support to the bereaved family, the victim's husband was treated as a suspect. Rejecting claims that the woman had not fallen into the manhole, she pointed out that CCTV footage was available until 7:30pm and that it was impossible to stage such an incident within minutes.
In a strongly worded statement shared on social media platform X, the chief minister described the fatal manhole incident as a "crime" rather than an accident, saying the tragedy had bowed her head in shame and exposed grave administrative negligence. "The loss of an innocent life in the heart of Lahore is not a mere accident, it is a crime," she emphasized, adding that efforts to hide incompetence by manipulating facts had further deepened the tragedy.
