Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has taken decisive action after a heartbreaking incident in Lodhran, where a young child tragically fell into an open manhole left uncovered due to negligence.
According to rescue officials, the child slipped into the sewer opening while walking near his home. Despite immediate rescue efforts, the child could not survive — sparking outrage across the district and social media.
Witnesses say the manhole had been open for days, with no warning signs or barriers. Locals had repeatedly complained but received no response from authorities.
Shaken by the tragedy and calling it an “unforgivable failure of duty,” CM Maryam ordered the immediate removal of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lodhran, holding him accountable for failing to ensure basic civic safety.
“No parent should ever lose a child due to such criminal negligence,” she stated, directing a province-wide review of all open manholes and unsafe construction points.
The Chief Minister also instructed authorities to file cases against the officials and contractors responsible. A high-level inquiry has been launched to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about poor municipal oversight, negligence in maintenance work, and the urgent need for strict accountability across Punjab.env
