LAHORE: The rescue teams on Thursday managed to recover the body of 10-month-old Rida Fatima, who, along with her mother Sadia, fell into a manhole near Bhati Gate in Lahore.
The child's body was recovered — after nearly 17 hours — from a sewer line on Outfall Road, said the Rescue 1122.
The development comes after Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran said that the mother's body was found from the sewerage line at Outfall Road, three kilometres from the said manhole, adding the flow of sewage was so intense that it took the body away.
The DIG said that a high-level committee has been formed to probe the incident, adding that the probing body will soon submit its findings.
Expressing grief over the unfortunate incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered strict action against "negligence and carelessness" of the administration.
The CM, on her way back from Bakhar, convened an emergency meeting at the airport and ordered immediate submission of an impartial fact-finding report over the incident.
Meanwhile, Lahore Development Authority's director general has suspended the entire team working on the Data Darbar project.
A notification has been issued for the suspension of project director, deputy director, assistant director and sub-engineer.
Furthermore, all three people, including the woman's husband, have been released.
Noting that the call of the incident was received at 3:30pm on Wednesday, the Rescue 1122 had earlier said that search operation was carried out at three different locations, namely Outfall Road, Bhati Gate and Mohini Road and 10 rescue vehicles, 25 rescuers were participating in the operation.
As far as the investigation is concerned, a notification issued today stated that the additional chief secretary will serve as the committee's convener, with the additional secretary of Services and General Administration, the Communication & Works secretary, and the additional inspector general (AIG) as members of the probing body.
The committee will expedite its work and submit its report within 24 hours, said the notification.
Superintendent Police City Bilal Ahmed said that they were investigating the incident in all aspects, adding that the woman's husband was questioned. However, police could not find satisfactory answers from him, according to the police.
Previously, the police officials said that the statements of the husband and other close relatives were being recorded, while CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts were also being examined, they added.
Additionally, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq has directed the registration of a case against the contractor, with the authority’s spokesperson adding that a show-cause notice has also been issued to the contractor.
A show-cause notice has also been issued to the Nespak resident engineer, along with recommendations for departmental action and a due inquiry. The spokesperson added that the Nespak team’s role has also been made part of the inquiry.
The initial investigation report revealed that the deceased mother and child were seen shopping with the father at 6:47pm near Data Darbar. The family reached Data Darbar at 7:22pm and was later seen heading towards the Old Birds Market at 7:30pm.
At 7:32pm, Rescue 1122 received a call reporting that a mother and child had fallen, following which rescuers reached the incident site within four minutes.
Furthermore, an audio message sent by Rescue 1122 officer Farooq Amjad to one of his colleagues has surfaced, further complicating the matter.
In the audio message, Amjad said he had investigated the incident on his own.
“I spoke to the girl’s father, and when the whole matter came to my attention, I became suspicious, like you,” the rescuer can be heard saying in the message.
“I am not saying that the call is fake, but like you, I am suspicious,” he added, noting that Rescue 1122 had been conducting a search operation throughout the night.
“We will not stop the operation until the investigating agencies tell us that this is a lie,” Amjad said in the audio message.
“The situation there reflects that there is no chance that such an incident could even happen.”
“We cannot say it is a fake call until proper investigations confirm that it is a fake call,” the rescuer told one of his colleagues.
He further added: “I spoke to the girl’s father; he is suspicious. Her father is also suspicious — that’s it.”
Reacting to the audio message, Rescue 1122 Secretary Rizwan Naseer said an inquiry was underway to determine why the message was sent and to whom.
