Latest News Lahore | July 17
What began as an ordinary night in Rasool Park, Shahdara, quickly turned into something else, one open manhole transformed the street into a hazard. A motorcyclist, unaware of the uncovered sewer ahead, drove right into it. The fall was sudden. There were no warning signs. No cover. Nothing to slow him down or alert him. Nearby residents rushed over and pulled him out. Locals took him to the hospital right after the fall. Authorities haven’t released an official update on his condition yet. Following the incident where a biker falls in manhole Shahdara, one thing is certain, that road was never safe to begin with. It failed the very people who travel it every day.
CCTV Footage Captures the Moment
The fall didn’t go unseen. It was all caught on a nearby CCTV. He’s seen riding along, nothing fast, just usual. The street? Almost no light. You can barely make out the road, let alone an open hole in it. Just seconds before, the front wheel clipped the edge of the open manhole, and then, without warning, he vanished. In a blink, he was gone. Locals are seen running toward the site, lifting him out. The video is brief, but devastating. It highlights the exact moment where city negligence met human tragedy.
A Manhole Left Exposed for Days
People living around Rasool Park say they had complained several times. The manhole had been left open for days following sewerage work, but no action was taken. “We saw it every day. Walked around it. Warned our kids about it. But no one came to fix it,” said Munir, a shopkeeper nearby. “It was just waiting for someone.” There were no warning boards, cones, or temporary covers, not even a brick barrier to alert people.
FIR Registered Against Contractor
Shahdara police filed an FIR against the private contractor assigned to the maintenance in that area. Two people connected to the repair team have been arrested. The charges? Criminal negligence and endangering public safety. “This wasn’t just careless, it was dangerous,” said a senior police officer. “If someone had taken responsibility earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.”
WASA Admits Lapse, Points to Outsourced Team
WASA officials admitted that work was underway in the area, and that the site had been left unsecured by an outsourced contractor. “The manhole was part of a project handed to a third-party team. They failed to replace the cover,” said one official. “We’re now conducting a wider inspection of all open manholes across the zone.”
Locals Demand Accountability, Not Apologies
By the next day, people from nearby neighborhoods gathered at the scene. Some laid flowers. Others held signs saying:
“Cover the holes, not your mistakes.”
“Negligence is not an accident.”
Parents said they’re afraid to let their children out, even in daylight. Riders and pedestrians alike say they no longer trust the roads under their own feet.
Lahore’s Long-Standing Manhole Problem
This isn’t the first such case in Lahore. From Allama Iqbal Town to Sabzazar, uncovered manholes have caused dozens of accidents. But most cases fade from memory, until another incident forces the city to react. “Why is it always after someone gets hurt that they fix it?” asked Uzma, a local school teacher. “Why not before?”
One Incident, Many Unanswered Questions
The tragedy in Rasool Park isn’t just about one street or a single manhole. It’s part of a larger pattern, how routine carelessness can lead to irreversible consequences. The recent case where a biker falls in manhole Shahdara is a grim reminder. While one man was pulled out, others might not be so lucky next time. City officials promise inspections. Residents want action. And the rest of Lahore watches, wondering how many more open manholes lie quietly beneath their path.
