The contractor in Lahore is mandated to compensate Rs10 million to the victims of the Bhaati Gate disaster, as ordered by Chief Minister Maryam.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has conveyed profound dismay at the demise of a mother and daughter who plunged into a sewer pipe in the Bhaati Gate neighbourhood, deeming the tragedy intolerable in a prominent metropolis such as Lahore.

In a high-level discussion regarding the Bhaai Gate incident, Maryam Nawaz enquired about the absence of released identities of those accountable from Tepa and WASA, as well as the lack of arrests. She characterised the accident as a moment of profound sorrow and labelled it “criminal negligence.”

The chief minister expressed condolences to the affected family and promised that Rs10 million will be obtained from the accountable contractor to offer financial support. She asserted that no differentiation exists between fatalities resulting from negligence or other causes.

Maryam Nawaz disclosed that briefings affirmed the continuation of building activities at the accident site, indicated that the sewer line was excessively elevated, and noted that water flow fluctuated consistently. The young woman and her 10-month-old daughter were visiting relatives in Lahore and were entering a rickshaw when the incident transpired. The absence of illumination and darkness contributed to the preventable catastrophe.

The chief minister asserted that all individuals present at the location bore responsibility, highlighting the presence of several open manholes and the absence of safety measures. She verified that the mother’s body was retrieved yesterday and the daughter’s today, underscoring the significant negligence at the construction site.

Maryam Nawaz criticised the management of the site, observing that although the area was fenced off with pannaflex, adequate illumination was not provided, and those who vacated the site were indifferent to its security.

She additionally stated that the examination of Safe City and CCTV footage is time-consuming; yet, such instances are intolerable in Lahore, a significant metropolis.