SAHIWAL: Locals and rescuers retrieved the bodies of two cousins who were buried while digging sand out of an old well after 23 hours in Mohar Singh village in Arifwala tehsil on Thursday afternoon.

According to Rescue 1122, three heavy cranes, a dozen personnel, and three vehicles were deployed as the unstable sand bed made it difficult to position heavy machinery securely at the site.

Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza also took notice of the incident and deputed Assistant Commissioner Sobia Falik to supervise the rescue operation.

Reports said Munir (35) and his cousin Ramzan (18) were digging sand from the abandoned well to use it in the construction of their house 200 metres away from the well. They were loading sand into a push trolley when the well’s walls suddenly collapsed. As a result, both men were buried under thousands of tonnes of sand.

Villagers alerted Rescue 1122 and also supported the rescue efforts.

The gravity of the situation prompted the district administration to involve Suthra Punjab workers, local lumberdars, patwaris, and police to assist in the operation.

After seven hours, Munir’s body was recovered, but Ramzan’s body was recovered after 23 hours. The bodies were handed over to their families.

COP HELD: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) claimed to have arrested a sub-inspector for allegedly demanding a Rs50,000 bribe from a complainant in exchange for arresting an accused nominated in a case registered at the Farid Nagar police station of Pakpattan.

According to reports, Advocate Muhammad Sarmad claimed that Farid Nagar police Sub-Inspector Abdul Majeed demanded Rs50,000 to arrest the suspect in a case he had registered.

The complainant reported the matter to ACE Pakpattan Circle Officer Kashif Hashimi. Acting on the complaint, ACE officials conducted a raid under the supervision of a local magistrate and claimed to have recovered marked currency notes from the suspect and took him into custody.

A case was subsequently registered against the suspect on Sarmad’s complaint.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2026