A Lahore district court on Monday granted bail to five accused in the Bhati Gate manhole deaths case, which involved the tragic loss of a young mother and her infant daughter after they fell into an open sewer near Data Darbar last month.
According to court proceedings, a three-page written order was issued by a judicial magistrate at the Lahore District Courts after a settlement agreement was reached between the parties.
During the hearing, project manager Asghar Sandhu, safety in-charge Hanzala, and site in-charge Ahmed Nawaz appeared before the court, while contractors Salman Yaseen and Usman Yaseen were produced in police custody.
The case relates to a heartbreaking incident near Bhati Gate, close to Data Darbar, where 24-year-old Sadia and her 10-month-old daughter Rida accidentally fell into an uncovered manhole during ongoing sewerage work.
Rescue officials stated that Sadia’s body was recovered nearly six hours after the incident, while her infant daughter’s body was retrieved after an extensive 16-hour search operation, sparking widespread public outrage and raising serious questions over safety measures at development sites.
The incident had prompted calls for strict accountability of contractors and civic authorities responsible for negligence, particularly in densely populated areas of Lahore.
Further legal proceedings in the case are expected to continue in line with the court’s directions.
