From cosmetic development in Punjab to a bitter truth: Another child dies after falling into open manhole in Kasur

A three-year-old boy’s death after falling into an open manhole in Kasur has reignited outrage over unsafe infrastructure, exposing the deadly gap between Punjab’s development claims and ground realities.

WEBDESK – MediaBites

The death of a three-year-old child after falling into an uncovered manhole in Kasur has once again exposed the grim reality behind Punjab’s claims of cosmetic urban development, where beautification projects continue to overshadow basic public safety.

According to police, the incident occurred on Monday in the Mustafaabad area of Kasur when Abdul Rehman, the three-year-old son of Advocate Ali Raza Bhatti, fell into an open sewer manhole near a private marriage hall while playing. The child was rushed for help but could not survive.

In a statement, Kasur Police said the manhole had no protective cover, calling the incident a result of “gross negligence” by both the local administration and the management of the nearby marriage hall. On the directions of District Police Officer Muhammad Isa Khan, a case has been registered at the Mustafaabad (Lalyani) police station under Section 322-A of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Police said teams have been formed to arrest the marriage hall owner, manager, and other responsible individuals. The DPO, accompanied by the deputy commissioner, visited the site soon after the incident to review the circumstances and ordered strict action against those found responsible.

The tragedy in Kasur comes barely days after two similar fatal incidents in Lahore, where a woman and her 10-month-old daughter died after falling into an open manhole near Data Darbar. That case triggered public outrage after evidence surfaced of alleged negligence, intimidation of the bereaved family, and failure by officials to ensure safety.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered action against contractors and safety officials in the Lahore case, promising accountability. Yet the death of another child in Kasur has raised serious questions about whether lessons are being learned — or whether official action remains reactive and symbolic.

As grieving families bury their loved ones, open manholes continue to dot streets across Punjab, turning daily life into a lethal gamble. Critics argue that until basic infrastructure safety is treated as a priority rather than an afterthought, such preventable deaths will keep puncturing the government’s development narrative with a bitter, recurring truth.