BAHAWALPUR: Daniwal police have booked a contractor over the deaths of two sewer workers who suffocated while cleaning an underground sewerage pipeline on Multan Road near Khanewal Mor in Vehari.
Reports said police registered a first information report under Sections 322 and 431 of the Pakistan Penal Code against contractor Ghazanfar Ali, owner of A.S.
Contractor and General Order Suppliers, on the complaint of Wasa Vehari Deputy Director Muhammad Abid.
In his complaint, Abid alleged that the contractor had been directed to suspend the sewer line cleaning work and had deposited his equipment with the Wasa office as an assurance that work at the site had been halted. However, despite these instructions, the contractor allegedly resumed work on the Multan Road sewerage line and interfered with government property.
The complainant further alleged that the contractor failed to provide the required safety equipment to the workers.
As a result of the alleged negligence, two sewer workers, Sanwal and Sunny, both residents of Khanewal, died of suffocation while working inside the sewer line.
Police said the contractor had been booked and investigations were under way. No arrest had been made so far.BREACH PLUGGED: A 40-foot-wide breach developed in Canal 5-L/DB near Tailwala in Yazman tehsil on Tuesday, inundating a vast area and damaging cotton crops.
According to irrigation officials, heavy machinery and bulldozers were rushed to the site soon after the breach occurred.
After several hours of repair work, the breach was plugged in the afternoon.
However, local farmers blamed the irrigation Department for negligence, alleging that poor maintenance had caused the breach. They demanded action against the responsible officials and compensation for their crop losses.
BODY RECOVERED: Rescue 1122 recovered the body of a 14-year-old girl on Wednesday after a 24-hour search in the Sidhnai-Mailsi Link Canal. She had drowned while trying to save her younger brother.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, Anila (14) lived with her family near Khanwala Pul on the Sidhnai-Mailsi Link Canal in Khairpur Tamewali tehsil, about 45 kilometres from Bahawalpur.
Rescuers said Anila had gone to the canal with her two younger brothers to fetch water. While she was stopping them from bathing in the canal, one of the boys slipped into deep water and began to drown. Anila immediately jumped into the canal to rescue him.
Although the younger brother was saved, Anila drowned.