LAHORE, May 19: Three sewermen of the Water and Sanitation Agency were killed and one fell unconscious while cleaning the Lakshmi Chowk disposal station on Thursday night.

Pervez and Guftar died owing to suffocation when they fell into the well after slipping from the stairs. Adil was killed when he jumped into the well along with Inayat to rescue their colleagues.

The families of the three sewermen were given compensation cheques for Rs200,000 each by district nazim Mian Amer’s representative Raja Munawwar.

Meanwhile, the district nazim, who is currently on a visit to the US, has ordered the provision of jobs to two family members of each deceased sewerman.

A committee has also been constituted to hold an inquiry into the incident, and it will submit its report within three days.

A Wasa spokesman said the accident took place during desilting of the 20-foot well.

According to Wasa employees, it so happened because the sewermen were tired. They had requested the supervisory staff for a break, but their request was turned down.