Public anger spread on social media after the body of a woman who fell into an open sewerage line along with her minor daughter near Bhatti Chowk in Lahore was recovered, while the child still remains missing.
Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran said the woman’s body was found at a disposal station on Outfall Road. Addressing questions on whether the water flow was sufficient to carry a person, Kamran said the timing of the incident was being ignored.
“You should also look at the time difference. When it happened, the water flow was fast; those are peak hours,” he said, adding that the flow was reduced later in the night.
Asked whether police would register a case, the DIG said action would be taken according to the wishes of the family. “Whatever the family says and whatever their opinion is, we will act according to that,” he said.
Lahore Operations Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Tauqir said police had taken the woman’s husband into custody for questioning. Speaking to a private media outlet, Tauqir said the man had contacted Rescue 1122 around 7:30pm, alleging that his wife and daughter had fallen into the sewerage line.
“It would be premature to say she was murdered or died in an accident,” the SSP said.
According to Tauqir, the husband was taken into custody following a statement by the woman’s father, who alleged the couple had not been on good terms for the past few months. He said the father had expressed doubts over the husband’s role, despite the husband being the one who informed rescue services.
As details emerged, several reactions criticised official handling of the incident. One reaction said, “Imagine the agony, pain and torment of this unfortunate family whose two beloved ones fell into a sewage line right in front of their eyes, and then instead of standing with them in their grief, the government and official institutions are now conducting investigations against them.”
Other reactions targeted the Punjab government. One comment described the incident as “a slap in the face for the fake Form 47 government of Punjab,” while suggesting that official narratives would shift toward claims of performance.
Concerns over infrastructure were also raised. One reaction said, “A 23-year-old woman and her nine-month-old daughter fell into an open manhole in Lahore. No lights where people walk, but plenty in parks and graveyards.” The same comment criticised the absence of warnings near open manholes.
Several reactions referenced public statements by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. One comment said, “Didn’t Maryam Nawaz say the other day that she checks these manholes at night? Pure drama.”
Another reaction referred to a video in which instructions were given to cover manholes or use barbed wire, questioning whether such statements were meant for publicity.
Another comment suggested limited accountability, saying, “Maryam Nawaz will just dismiss the DC in the morning in front of cameras while the people continue to suffer.”
Following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice and ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee, directing it to submit a report within 24 hours. Two officials of the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA), a subsidiary of the Lahore Development Authority, were suspended with immediate effect over uncovered manholes.
Earlier, a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said teams were dispatched after receiving the report, confirming that a search operation had been launched.