Maryam Nawaz orders arrests over mother, infant daughter’s death in Lahore manhole

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered the arrest of a Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) project director, manager, and a consultant over the deaths of a woman and her infant daughter, who fell into an open manhole near Lahore’s Bhatti Gate.

Condemning the tragic incident, she directed that the contractor responsible for the site compensate the family of the deceased woman with Rs10 million. The bodies of the 24-year-old woman and her 10-month-old daughter were recovered after an extended rescue operation, officials said earlier on Thursday.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, an emergency meeting was held at Lahore Airport upon CM Maryam’s return from Bhakkar, where the additional chief secretary presented the official report on the incident.

She expressed complete lack of confidence in the performance of all responsible departments and called for immediate accountability. She held the administration, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), and all concerned officials responsible for gross negligence.

The CM ordered the dismissal and arrest of Project Director Zahid Hussain, Project Manager Ahmed Nawaz, Safety In-charge Daniyal, and Project Manager Asghar Sandhu. She instructed Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar to submit a compliance report following the arrests and ordered the dismissal of the area’s WASA in-charge.

Maryam criticised officials for failing to ensure safety at the construction site, noting that the manhole was left exposed after work had ended, putting public lives at risk. She stressed that safety measures at construction sites, including covering pits and manholes and ensuring adequate lighting, must be strictly implemented across the province.

She asserted that strict action would be taken against all officials and agencies that provided conflicting or inaccurate information during the operation. She stressed that those responsible must be arrested and presented before the authorities, and that no one should be allowed to evade accountability.

According to the statement, the CM noted that the incident occurred in a prominent area of Lahore, frequented by locals and tourists, and highlighted the criminal negligence displayed at the site.

She also ordered the installation of temporary mobile or wireless CCTV cameras wherever construction work has led to the removal of permanent Safe City cameras, warning that misleading or false information about such incidents would not be tolerated.

CM Maryam concluded by reiterating that all responsible officials must face consequences, warning that no one would be allowed to evade justice, and reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to public safety and the protection of citizens.

According to police and rescue authorities, Sadia and her infant daughter Rida Fatima fell into an uncovered manhole near Data Darbar where development work was reportedly under way. The incident was reported on Wednesday evening at around 7:30pm, prompting an immediate rescue response.

Rescue 1122 launched a search operation involving 10 emergency vehicles and 25 rescue workers and officers. The operation continued overnight as teams tracked the flow of the sewerage system along Outfall Road.

Lahore Deputy IGP (Operations) Faisal Kamran told The Express Tribune that Sadia’s body was recovered first from the sewerage system near Outfall Road, approximately three kilometres from the manhole. He said the strong sewage flow had carried the body a considerable distance from the incident site.

Police and rescue authorities said the recovery locations confirmed that the sewerage flow was intense enough to transport the bodies far from the point of the fall. Rescue officials said the infant’s body was found after a 16-hour-long operation that continued through the night.

DIG Kamran said that a high-level committee was constituted to probe the incident and will submit its findings shortly. He added that heads of all concerned authorities were present on the ground inspecting the rescue and recovery process on the directives of CM Maryam.

He also confirmed that all three detained individuals, including Sadia’s husband, had been released after investigations found no evidence of foul play.

According to a notification issued today, the additional chief secretary will serve as the committee’s convener, with the services and general administration additional secretary, communication and works secretary, and an additional IGP as members. The committee was directed to submit its report within 24 hours.

Following the incident, Bhatti Gate police registered a case under Section 322 (manslaughter) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Sajid Hussain, the father of the deceased woman and a resident of Khanewal.

The first information report named TIPA Project Manager Asghar Sandhu, Safety In-charge Daniyal Shamil and Site In-charge Ahmed Nawaz, holding them responsible for alleged criminal negligence. The complainant accused the officials of leaving the manhole uncovered, which he said directly led to the deaths.

The case initially triggered controversy after conflicting statements emerged, with some officials questioning whether bodies could travel through the sewerage system. Confusion intensified when a Punjab government spokesperson prematurely termed the incident “fake”, a statement later contradicted by rescue findings.

Scepticism further grew when family members accused Sadia’s husband of foul play, citing strained marital relations. Police detained the husband and others for questioning; however, investigators later stated that forensic evidence, CCTV footage and rescue operation findings supported the conclusion that the deaths were accidental.