A tragic accident at a rainwater drainage site in Lahore has prompted legal action against contractors working under the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), after a manhole was left unsecured without safety barriers or warning signs.
On the instructions of Punjab Housing Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against those responsible. Two individuals, contractor Azhar and his colleague Maqbool, have been taken into custody, while another suspect, Rao Bilal, remains at large but is expected to be arrested soon.
The FIR was officially lodged by Sub-Engineer Hamza Sharif, with injured individuals also named as accusers. The incident has exposed critical lapses in safety enforcement by WASA and its contractors.
Secretary Mengal emphasized that citizen safety is the government’s top priority and warned of strict legal action against any negligence. He reiterated that all public works sites must follow established safety standards.
This manhole accident has reignited debate over poor infrastructure oversight and contractor accountability in Lahore. It comes just weeks after a government directive on June 23 ordered all WASA zones to install barriers, warning signs, and lighting at construction and drainage sites to prevent such incidents.
In Related News: Sukkur Records 267mm Rainfall in 24 Hours
Meanwhile, in Sukkur and Kashmore districts, heavy monsoon rains have caused widespread flooding and power outages. The Sukkur deputy commissioner confirmed that 267mm of rain fell within 24 hours, with around 100mm pouring down in just one hour. A separate incident in Kashmore resulted in the collapse of a rooftop, killing one woman and injuring four others.
Authorities across Punjab and Sindh are now under increasing pressure to implement stricter monitoring and safety procedures amid ongoing monsoon challenges.
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