LAHORE:The Punjab Home Department has submitted a report to the Lahore High Court stating that 17 people died in Lahore during the recent Basant festival.
The three-day Basant festival was celebrated in Lahore from February 6 to 8. The Punjab government had lifted the ban on the historic event after 18 years, allowing it to take place under strict rules and regulations.
Despite the government’s emphasis on safety measures, more than 100 incidents were reported during the festival.Justice Awais Khalid heard the petition in which details of deaths and injuries during Basant were sought.
According to the report, three people died due to electrocution during the festival, two lost their lives after falling off trees, while 12 people died after falling off rooftops. The Lahore High Court had also sought details of those injured by kite strings during Basant. However, according to the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Azhar Siddique, the data was not provided to him.
