Daily Times

LAHORE: Yet another child walked into the jaws of death after falling into one of the ubiquitous open manholes in the city, the third such occurrence within a week.

The latest incident took place in the Misri Shah area, where three-year-old Yousaf, son of Ayyaz died after falling into an open manhole.

According to reports, the child was playing in a street where he accidentally slipped and fell into the manhole whose lid was missing.

Upon being informed, parents and locals reached the spot and pulled the minor out of the gutter. The child was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him brought dead. Police have registered a case against the contractor concerned and handed over the body to his heirs after completing the legal formalities.

Locals said that such incidents had increased in the city during the last few days, in which these open gutters sucked their hapless victims into a hellhole.

On the other hand, they said, the departments concerned just refuse to wake up from their slumber to ramp up the city’s road infrastructure.

Just a few days ago, an 18-month-old girl named Fiza died after falling into one such manhole in the Begum Kot area of Lahore. She was also playing in the street near her house when something knocked her off balance and she fell into the gutter. Her family members with the help of neighbours retrieved the body, while area residents staged a protest and demanded action against the officials responsible for not covering the open manholes in the area. That incident had prompted the Punjab chief minister to take notice of the incident, who sought a report from the deputy commissioner within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old police constable was found slaughtered in his quarter in the Raiwind police area on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Saleem, father of eight daughters and a resident of Railway Quarters, Raiwind. The investigation officer said that the deceased’s wife told the police that all the family members were sleeping inside the rooms, while Saleem was sleeping in the courtyard. She said that as she woke up in the morning, she found her husband in a pool of blood.

Upon being informed, locals and police reached at the spot. Police said that some unidentified persons had cut the victim’s throat and fled the area without being noticed. Police said that the actual reasons behind the blind murder would be ascertained after a comprehensive investigation procedure on all angels. However, they registered a case of murder against unidentified persons and removed the body to the city mortuary for an autopsy.

Also, a 24-year-old man committed suicide by swallowing acid over some issue in the Factory Area.

The deceased was identified as Tanveer, an employee of a local factory. Police said that victim was living in the factory quarters where his factory friends found him dead in his room and informed the police. Police said that initially the incident seemed to be a suicide case because a bottle of acid was also recovered near his body. However, they said that the actual cause of death could be established after the postmortem report.

Published in Daily Times, October 8^th 2017.