The tragic road accident caused by a poorly maintained sewage manhole at the Kotkapura Bypass has claimed another life. The mother, who was critically injured in the mishap on Saturday, succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the death of her six-month-old son.
Taking serious note of the double fatality and mounting public outrage over administrative negligence, Moga Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sagar Setia has ordered a high-level inquiry to investigate the exact causes of the accident.
The incident occurred on Saturday when a local resident was traveling on a motorcycle with his wife and their six-month-old son, Manveer Singh. As they reached the Kotkapura Bypass, the motorcycle hit an unevenly leveled sewage manhole cover on the main road, causing the vehicle to lose balance.
The impact threw both the mother and the infant onto the hard tarmac. Local bystanders rushed to their aid and took them to the Civil Hospital in Moga. While doctors declared the infant, Manveer, brought dead on arrival, his mother was referred to an advanced medical facility in critical condition, where she passed away today.
The double tragedy has sparked widespread anger among Moga residents, who pointed out that poorly maintained roads and protruding manholes had turned major stretches into death traps.
Residents have demanded that criminal negligence cases be registered against the officials responsible.
Responding to the gravity of the situation, DC Setia constituted a high-level investigative committee.
The committee has been tasked with identifying the technical lapses and pinpointing the departments or individuals responsible for the hazardous infrastructure.
Expressing grief over the tragedy, DC Setia said the district administration stood firmly with the grieving family in this hour of sorrow. He also assured that strict action would be taken based on the inquiry report.
