Lahore administration seals water park after 9-year-old girl's death; three officials arrested

A private water park was sealed by the district administration of Lahore on Wednesday after the death of a nine-year-old girl who is reported to have been trapped in a drainage pipe during the process of draining a swimming pool at the park.

The unfortunate incident took place on Monday when the authorities of Sozo Water Park reportedly drained out water from a swimming pool without making sure that the children were out of the water. The girl reportedly got caught in the pool due to suction produced by a powerful drainage pump.

After searching for the child for about 40-50 minutes, the rescue team found her stuck in the drainage pipe of the pool.

After the accident, the district administration had sealed the water park and put a ban on all its activities. The spokesperson of the district administration stated that the water park had been sealed on the day of the accident and legal action was taken against the management of the park on the grounds of negligence.

According to the spokesperson, the water park had not made proper arrangements with regards to fitness and safety.

The Batapur police registered a case of Section 322 (manslaughter) of the Pakistan Penal Code against the water park administration upon receiving the complaint of the victim’s mother.

As per the complaint, the mother mentioned that the negligence of the water park administration caused the death of her daughter and named the manager, in charge of the security and in charge of CCTV of the water park in the case.

According to the spokesperson of the DIG operations, all the three nominees have been apprehended.

It is also mentioned by the police spokesperson that the girl died after she got stuck in the drainage pipe while no safety net was installed at the entrance of the pipe.

The investigation is focusing on the alleged decision to begin draining the pool while children were still inside and whether mandatory safety measures around the drainage system had been ignored, he said.

Kamran said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the girl's death and that justice would be ensured for the victim.

The victim had recently returned from Dubai with her family and was her parents' only daughter.