Once in a while a tragedy occurs that leaves a deep impact on the minds of people. They serve as a wake-up call. These tragedies show how unpredictable life is. Lahore saw 10 members of a family burnt to death when apparently the refrigerator’s compressor exploded in a house, following which fire engulfed the entire building. That was tragic indeed.
But, in Islamabad an incident occurred that could have been avoided had the civic authorities done their job.
A man, identified as 50-year-old Arshad Satti, died while trying to rescue his 14-year-old son Abdul Rehman who had fallen into a manhole in Islamabad’s I-10 sector. The boy had gotten down into a manhole to retrieve a ball when he got trapped in the fumes inside. On hearing the screams of people who had gathered at the manhole, the boy’s father rushed to rescue his son.
Unfortunately, he too could not withstand the fumes. People called Rescue 15 as well as police, but by the time they arrived both father and son were dead.
It was tragic indeed, and this tragedy even echoed in the corridors of power.
In a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, the incident was taken up for discussion at the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) headquarters. The committee members expressed their concern over the negligence on the part of the city managers for failing to take notice of the uncovered manholes.
MNA Romina Khurshid Alam pointed out that there were approximately 102 manholes in the city that had no covers. The civic authorities, however, dispute this figure.
On the other hand, a case was registered against officials of the Capital Development Authority and rescue department on charges of manslaughter.
The officials who had been booked included director sanitation, supervisor and the relevant CDA staff as well as rescue department personnel.
Action, that too a temporary one, is taken only after precious lives are lost.
The residents of the area as well as traders also staged a protest on the Karnal Sher Khan Avenue against the civic authorities following the tragedy.
The area people had been alerting the civic authorities to the uncovered manhole, but they did not pay any heed.
If only they had listened.
It is high time the civic body conducted a survey forthwith to see how many manholes in the city did not have covers. If we go by the figure of 102 uncovered manholes presented in the NA committee by Romina Khurshid Khan, it was a huge number. These manholes pose a risk to citizens, especially children.
Besides, the CDA needs to see to it that the manhole covers do not go missing once they are placed back again.
Those who steal them and those who buy them should be penalised.