- The police question her husband and arrest three on suspicion.
- Rescue teams searched sewer pipes at four points to find the girl’s body.
- Wasa was ordered to speed up rescue efforts; entrepreneurs must act.
Rescue teams have recovered the body of the woman, who along with her daughter, allegedly fell into a drain near Bhati Gate in Lahore, while the search operation is underway to find the girl, a senior police official said on Thursday.
Faisal Kamran, Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations (DIG), speaking to the media in the wee hours of Thursday, said the body was found in the sewer line of Outfall Road, three kilometers from the said sewer hole, adding that the flow of sewage was so intense that it swept away the body.
The DIG said a high-level committee had been formed to probe the incident, adding that the investigating agency would submit its findings soon.
Kamran further said that heads of all authorities concerned are currently on the ground to inspect the process, as directed by the Punjab Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the three people, including the woman’s husband, have been released.
A notification issued today said the additional chief secretary will serve as convener of the committee, with additional secretary Services and General Administration, secretary Communication and Works and additional inspector general (AIG) as members of the investigating body.
The committee will expedite its work and submit its report within 24 hours, the notification said.
Furthermore, the Director General of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) said that project director Zahid Abbas and deputy director Shabbir Ahmad were suspended for dereliction of duty.
Municipal Police Commissioner Bilal Ahmed said he was investigating the incident from all aspects, adding that the woman’s husband had been questioned. However, the police could not find satisfactory answers from him, according to the police.
Earlier, police officials had said that the information about the woman and child falling into the drain was initially provided by the husband.
Statements of the husband and other close relatives are being recorded, while CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts are also being examined, they added.
Rescue personnel 1122 said they received a call to the rescue control room at 7:32 a.m. and teams reached the scene within four minutes.
“There is about a foot and a half of water at the reported location, with a depth of more than 10 feet and a width of about three feet,” said Rescue District 1122 emergency officer Shahid Waheed.
Waheed said rescue personnel carried out searches using tires and manual probing techniques, and the operation would continue until the family was satisfied.
Rescue teams remain engaged at four different points along the sewer line, but no trace has yet been found.
Meanwhile, the woman’s father approached the police and alleged that his daughter was murdered, demanding action against his in-laws.
Police said three people, including the husband, were arrested on suspicion as part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 officials said a search operation was also underway near Data Darbar area, while Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) officials have been ordered to further speed up rescue efforts.
On the CM’s instructions, Punjab Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (Tepa) director Bashir Hussain was suspended over the incident, while officials said action would also be taken against contractors found negligent in implementing required safety precautions.
