A marriage hall in Kasur’s Mustafaabad area was sealed on Monday when a three-year-old boy died after falling into an uncovered sewerage manhole on the premises, officials said.

 

 

According to local authorities, the child, identified as Ali Hoor, was present at the marriage hall when the incident occurred. Witnesses said the boy was playing inside the premises when he fell into an open manhole. His body was later retrieved from the sewer by people at the scene.

 

 

Assistant Commissioner Ghulam Fatima ordered the immediate sealing of the marriage hall following the incident. She also directed relevant departments to look into the circumstances surrounding the lapse that led to the manhole being left uncovered.

 

 

In a separate directive, Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza instructed police to arrest the owner of the marriage hall and initiate legal proceedings. Officials said action was being taken to fix responsibility in connection with the child’s death.

 

 

The incident in Kasur comes amid multiple fatalities linked to uncovered manholes reported across Punjab in recent weeks. In January, a woman and her infant daughter died after falling into an open sewer near Bhati Gate in Lahore.

 

 

According to rescue officials, the manhole near Bhati Gate had been left open due to construction work in the area near the Data Darbar Birds Market. Officials said limited visibility during nighttime hours contributed to the incident.

 

 

The victims were identified as Sadiya and her nine-month-old daughter Rida. Rescue officials said the two were swept away by fast-moving water after falling into the sewer. The woman’s body was recovered after hours of search efforts, while the body of the infant was found nearly 17 hours later, approximately eight kilometres away in the Saggian area.

 

 

Following the Lahore incident, disciplinary action was initiated against police officials. Station House Officer Zain Abbas was suspended over allegations of detaining and torturing the husband of the deceased woman, according to officials.