ARIFWALA – A routine cleaning operation turned into a tragedy near the Qaboola Bypass when three sanitary workers fell into a manhole, resulting in one fatality and two injuries.
The accident occurred near the Chak Jetha Bridge on a newly installed sewerage line. Preliminary reports suggest that the workers were overcome by a sudden buildup of toxic gases inside the line during the cleaning process.
Rescue Operations and Casualties
Rescue 1122 teams arrived promptly at the scene and managed to recover all three individuals.
Deceased: A worker identified as Qadeer tragically lost his life due to gas inhalation. His body has been shifted to the hospital for legal formalities.
Injured: Two other workers, Afaq (31), son of Abdul Ghani, and Arshad (55), son of Pahlwan, were rescued alive. Both are residents of 89 EB and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Chief Minister Takes Notice
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her deep grief over the incident and has taken official notice. She has demanded an immediate report from the Deputy Commissioner of Pakpattan.
The Chief Minister voiced her serious indignation over the lack of safety equipment provided to the workers. She has ordered a thorough investigation to determine responsibility and directed that strict legal action be taken against those found negligent.
Official Visit
Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner Pakpattan Asif Raza and DPO Pakpattan Javed Iqbal Chidhar visited the hospital. They met with the injured workers to ensure they were receiving the best possible care and offered their heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased worker, Qadeer.