Lahore: Truck driver held responsible for pedestrian bridge collapse

LAHORE: A high-level meeting was held under the chair of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at his Minar-e-Pakistan tent office to ascertain as to what caused a pedestrian bridge on Ring Road, near Harbanspura, collapse.

Presenting his initial report in this regard, Commissioner Lahore Jawad Rafiq Malik informed that the dumper struck against the bridge, due to which the bridge collapsed and the truck driver, Rana Sajjad, died on the spot. He informed that Khalid Rauf & Co had constructed this overhead bridge in 2009. He further said that structural specimens of the collapsed bridge have been sent to laboratories for test.

Shahbaz Sharif said investment of billions of rupees has been made on the Lahore Ring Road, therefore, its proper upkeep, maintenance and protection is of utmost important. Directing immediate analysis of all overhead bridges, the CM ordered that all matters including the tendering process of the collapsed bridge on Ring Road, its bidding, contractual payment, its design, third party audit and other aspects, be reviewed by the Chief Minister Inspection Team.

The Chief Minister further directed for taking foolproof steps to put an end to recurrence of such lamentable incidents in future. He said there should be an effective checking system at the entry point of the Ring Road and directed that structural specimens of the collapsed bridge be sent to the best laboratories. (APP)