Motorist and Children Plunge into Open Manhole in Ludhiana Traffic Incident | Ludhiana News

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Ludhiana: What started as a routine drive back home from school turned into a nightmare for a man and his two children. While driving his motorcycle, the man strayed into a pile of loose earth heaped around an open manhole in Eastman Chowk, Giaspura. The mound shifted, sending him and the children sliding down into the gaping hole right in the middle of traffic. Fortunately for them, the road was crowded and passersby lost no time to come to the rescue.
CCTV footage of the incident, which also went viral on social media, shows a group of startled people gathering around the manhole soon after the three fell inside. For some time, they could be seen in fervent discussions, after which someone fetched a ladder. The video showed the two kids being dragged out and attended to by concerned residents.
While Good Samaritans saved the day, the MC shifted the blame on the contractor working in the area. The civic body is getting a road constructed at this location and the operation and maintenance cell is raising the level of manhole slabs. Officials said that the contractor handling the work ignored safety measures.
The negligence could prove fatal for the victims, who have sustained injuries. The incident took place at around 1.30pm. After they were rescued from the manhole, passersby took the victims to the nearest hospital.
Meanwhile, the incidents sparked considerable public outrage, with people asking why there was no barricading around the manhole and why officials responsible were not present at the spot. Many wondered what would have happened if the incident took place at night, with no one around.
MC executive engineer Parshotam Lal said, “The matter has come to my knowledge. When the video went viral, the contractor gave the plea that he had done barricading but the bike rider still entered the road. We will issue a notice to the contractor and warn contractors to avoid such negligence in future.”

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