Toddlers chasing pet cat fall into 8-foot-deep ditch; contractor among four booked
GUJRAT:
A two-year-old boy died after falling into an uncovered drain near his home in a private housing society in Sarai Alamgir on Thursday, police said.
According to initial reports, the toddler had stepped outside his house while chasing a cat when he accidentally fell into an open gutter nearby.
The sewer, which is said to be six to eight feet deep and filled with water, had been left without a protective fence during the ongoing construction work in the area.
The child drowned on the spot before family members could save him.
Rescue teams and police rushed to the scene after being alerted and retrieved the body from the sewer.
The deceased was shifted to Tehsil headquarters hospital Sarai Alamgir for legal formalities.
Police at the 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 persons for alleged negligence.
However, there were no arrests prior to the filing of this report.
Residents of the area have expressed anger at what they described as negligence in leaving open and unguarded sewers in residential areas.
A few days earlier, a minor girl was injured after falling into a gutter in another incident in Sarai Alamgir.
Authorities said further investigation is underway.
Earlier in ton January 29, the body of a woman who fell into a manhole near Bhati Gate in Lahore along with her daughter was found. The minor girl’s body was found about 16 hours later.
DIG (operations) Lahore Faisal Kamran told The Express Pakinomist that the victim has been identified as Sadia, 24 years.
He said the concerned authorities and emergency services had conducted search operations along the route of the sewer line and at one point they spotted the dead body. However, the search operation continued to recover the aggrieved child. DIG said the body was recovered from Outfall Road, three kilometers from the said manhole, adding that the flow of sewage was so intense that it carried away the body.
He said a high-level committee has been formed to look into the incident, adding that the probe body will submit its conclusion soon. He further said that heads of all concerned authorities are currently on site and inspecting the process as per the directives of Punjab Chief Minister.
