B A H A W A L P U R : Three people, including a six-year-old girl, were killed, while 19 others were injured in separate rain-related and accidental incidents in Vehari and Lodhran districts on Sunday.
In Vehari, two private labourers died of suffocation while cleaning an underground sewer line, while a minor girl was killed and five members of her family were seriously injured when the roof of their house collapsed after heavy rain.
According to Rescue 1122, two labourers, identified as Sunny and Sanwal, both residents of Khanewal, had been privately hired to clean an underground sewerage line near the Old Lorry Stand in Vehari late on Saturday night. Without proper safety equipment, they descended into the main sewer through a rope but were overcome by poisonous gases and died inside the sewer.
After receiving an emergency call, Rescue 1122 personnel reached the site, retrieved the bodies and shifted them to the DHQ Hospital, Vehari, in the presence of police for legal formali-ties.
Wasa Vehari officials said the labourers had entered the sewer without informing the department or adopting the required safety measures.
They maintained that the Wasa emergency section could have provided safety equipment had it been informed in advance. The district administration has reportedly launched an inquiry into the incident.
In a separate rainrelated incident, six-yearold Anamta Bibi was killed and five members of her family were injured when the roof of their house collapsed at Adda Hari Chand on Karampur Road near Mailsi after overnight rainfall.
Rescue officials said rainwater had accumulated on the roof, causing ittocavein.The deceased girl died on the spot, while the injured Mustafa (60), Azeaz Mai (50), Ali Zain (11), Rehan Ali (6) and Ayana Ali (5) were shifted to THQ Hospital, Mailsi, where they were admitted for treatment.
Meanwhile, in Kahrore Pacca, Lodhran district, the roof of a restaurant also collapsed due to heavy rain, injuring 14 people. Rescue 1122 shifted all the injured to THQ Hospital, KahrorePacca. One of the victims sustained serious injuries, while the others were reported to be stable.
WOMAN BOOKED: Gaggo Mandi police in Vehari district have registered a case under the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act against a woman after she allegedly retracted her rape allegation against a doctor who had been arrested in connection with the case.
According to police, ‘S’ , a resident of Chak No.
365/EB, had alleged in her complaint last week that doctor ‘Y’ raped her while she was alone at her house.
Following the registration of the FIR and the complainant’s medical examination, police arrested the doctor, who was later sent to jail on judicial remand.
Police claimed that during court proceedings, the complainant retracted her earlier statement accusing the doctor of rape.
Subsequently, Gaggo Mandi police, on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Shafiq, registered a case against the woman under the AntiRape (Investigation and Trial) Act. No arrest had been made in the case.