Stray bull falls into open manhole at Giaspura, rescued by MC staff

Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 10

A stray bull fell into a sewer manhole in the Giaspura area last night.

When a few persons saw the bull in the uncovered manhole on Sua Road in Giaspura this morning, they raised an alarm. The bull was later rescued, but the questions are being raised over the role of MC officials concerned who ignored the uncovered manhole.

Residents said a complaint was made to the civic body regarding the uncovered manhole but no action was taken in this regard, resulting in the bull falling into it.

A shop owner, Sandeep Kumar, said, “The manhole has been lying open for the past few months. A stray bull fell in the manhole last night. I saw the bull in the manhole at about 7 am. The condition of the bull was seemingly not well this morning. After the matter was brought into the notice of the MC, the staff concerned reached there to rescue the bull.”

“By using a JCB machine, the manhole slab was removed. The bull was then lifted out using ropes. It was later shifted to a gaushala,” said Sandeep Kumar.

After the rescue operation, the MC filled the manhole area with soil in an improper manner. A businessman, Rashpal Singh said, “A complaint about the uncovered manhole was made to the civic body’s official concerned on telephone over a month ago. The uncovered manhole was posing a threat to pedestrians, including the children. Following the complaint, the MC had then placed a slab but no cover was placed on the manhole. Thus, the uncovered manhole was giving an open invitation to a mishap. If the MC had acted timely to cover the sewer manhole, this incident could have been averted.”

Executive Engineer, Parshotam Lal said, “The bull has been rescued. We are looking into the matter. The staff concerned has already been given directions to make sure that all sewer manholes must be covered.”