Two-year-old drowns in sewer in Sarai Alamgir

A two-year-old boy died after falling into an uncovered sewer near his home in a private housing society in Sarai Alamgir on Thursday, police said. As per the initial reports, the toddler had stepped outside his house while chasing a pet cat when he accidentally fell into a nearby open gutter. The sewer, reportedly six to eight feet deep and filled with water, had been left without protective fencing during ongoing construction work in the area. The child drowned on the spot before family members could rescue him. Rescue teams and police rushed to the scene after being alerted and retrieved the body from the sewer. The deceased was shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Sarai Alamgir for legal formalities. Police at Saddar Sarai Alamgir station have registered a case under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the child's uncle, Gul Manan Shehzad. The FIR names the contractor and three other individuals for alleged negligence. However, no arrests had been made till the filing of this report. Residents of the area have expressed anger over what they described as negligence in leaving open and unguarded sewers in residential areas. Just days earlier, a minor girl was injured after falling into a gutter in another incident in Sarai Alamgir. Authorities said further investigation is under way. Earlier in ton January 29, the body of a woman, who along with her daughter fell into a manhole near Bhati Gate in Lahore, was found. The minor girl's body was found around 16 hour later. DIG (operations) Lahore Faisal Kamran told The Express Tribune that the victim has been identified as Sadia, aged 24. He said the authorities concerned and emergency services had been conducting search operations along the route of the sewerage line and at one point they spotted the dead body. However, the search operation continued for the recovery of the victim child. The DIG said the body was found from Outfall Road, three kilometres from the said manhole, adding the flow of sewage was so intense that it took the body away. He said that a high-level committee has been formed to probe the incident, adding that the probing body will soon submit its finding. He further said that heads of all authorities concerned are currently on the ground inspecting the process, on the directives of the Punjab Chief Minister.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/WFoRIqL