DERA GHAZI KHAN: After an inquiry report found them guilty of a fatal accident caused by an open manhole on the under-construction Model Town-Gaddai Road, the civil lines police registered a case against two contractors and two engineers from the highway and public health departments under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

In the accident, a motorcycle rider crashed into a divider and died of injuries after he could not control the two-wheeler after seeing the open manhole. A pillion rider, the brother of the deceased, is being treated at Nishter Hospital in Multan for his severe head injuries.

Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha took notice of the tragic accident and ordered a probe. On the recommendations of the inquiry committee, two sub-engineers of government departments were found guilty of negligence. A case was registered against Waseem Sadiq and Habibullah and road contractors Shafqat Mansoor and Hameedullah. The inquiry team head, Additional Deputy Commissioner Tayyab Khan, and experts inspected the accident site and obtained information from eyewitnesses and local people. On the report of the committee, the case was registered.

Commissioner Chattha said that the inquiry report established the negligence of government departments and the construction company. It was criminal that the manholes were left open on the under-construction Model Town Road and no warning signboards or barriers were installed.

The report states that the motorcycle riders could not control the vehicle after seeing the open manhole and the motorcycle crashed into the divider. Both riders fell 60 feet away from the manhole. Class 6 student Amir Hamza died on the spot due to injuries, while his brother Tayyab is being treated at Nishter hospital in Multan.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2022