TAXILA: Locals gathered outside the camp of a private contractor company to stage a protest over the death of a 12-year-old girl, after a girder fell on her due to the negligence of a truck driver in the jurisdiction of Pindigheb police station.

The protesters blocked the under-construction China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route and later staged a protest outside the camp.

Police, while quoting eye witnesses and family members of the deceased said, Amrena Bibi was passing under a bridge located on the route when a truck loaded with an excavator hit the flyover. A girder from the bridge fell on the child, resulting in her death on the spot.

The incident stirred up anger among residents of the area, who along with the deceased’s family members staged the protest and halted movement of heavy vehicles carrying construction material.

Protesters demanded registration of cases against officials of National Highway Authority along with proprietor of the private company, project manager, site engineer and driver of the trailer. They said the deceased’s family should be given compensation, safety officers should be appointed on the route and fences should be installed on the sides of the bridge.

The protest ended after peaceful negotiations between police and the participants.

Pindigheb police on the complaint of Khitab Gull- father of the deceased — registered a case against the nominated accused and started further investigation. However, no arrest was made till the filing of this news story.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2021