A father and his two children had a narrow escape after plunging into a 12-foot-deep sewer through an uncovered manhole in the middle of a road.
The startling incident, captured on CCTV, shows the family riding a motorbike as the man tries to steer carefully around the open manhole.
Despite his efforts to avoid it, the motorbike begins to tip, and the man extends his leg in a futile attempt to regain balance.
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Moments later, all three—father and children—tumble into the gaping hole as the bike crashes onto its side.
Bystanders quickly gathered at the scene, alarmed by the accident, but initially struggled to rescue the trio.
According to local reports, residents eventually used a ladder to retrieve the family from the sewer.
Once safely pulled out, they were taken to a nearby clinic where they were treated for minor injuries, as reported by vknews24.
The accident occurred in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 26, as the father was returning home with his children from school.
At the time, roadwork was underway in the area, raising questions about safety precautions.
Angry locals have criticized authorities for negligence, pointing out the lack of barricades around the hazardous manhole or signage to warn motorists.
One resident expressed fears over the potential for even greater tragedy, asking local media, “What if this had happened at night?”
Responding to the backlash, Parshotam Lal, a spokesperson for the Municipal Corporation, stated that the contractor responsible for the work claimed barricades had been in place.
However, he assured that an investigation would be conducted.
“A notice will be issued, and the contractor will be warned to ensure such negligence does not occur in the future,” he said.
The incident has sparked concerns about infrastructure safety and the accountability of contractors in managing public works.
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SOURCE: Dad and kids have lucky escape after tumbling into 12ft manhole
