CM Maryam suspends Lodhran DC after child dies in open manhole

A seven-year-old boy died after falling into an open manhole in Lodhran, rescue officials said on Saturday.

The incident took place in the Dhanot area of the city. Rehan, a resident of Riyazabad colony, accompanied his father to Saeed Chowk to buy breakfast when he slipped into an uncovered manhole.

The sewer line contained eight to ten feet of wastewater at the time.

Rescue teams were alerted immediately and launched an operation to retrieve him. Rehan was pulled out and rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz suspended the deputy commissioner of Lodhran.

In a post on X, Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) Chairperson Hina Pervez Butt said: "Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took immediate action and removed the Lodhran deputy commissioner from his post. I have never seen a chief minister this active before."