Open drain trap on Tajpur Road: Mother pulls child to safety after fall; video goes viral

Ludhiana: A narrow escape involving a child who fell into an open, waterlogged drain on Tajpur Road has triggered outrage, with a viral video showing the child’s mother pulling her to safety within seconds.

The incident, which occurred near Amrit Dharam Kanda Chowk Wednesday evening, has once again exposed unsafe road conditions in the area.According to residents, a woman riding a scooter with three children lost balance after hitting a concealed open drain submerged under filthy, stagnant water. In the jolt, her daughter — standing in front — slipped into the drain. Acting swiftly, the mother rescued the child, while passersby helped retrieve the scooter.Locals said waterlogging on the stretch is routine, making it difficult to spot hazards like open drains. “People, including schoolchildren and elderly residents, are forced to wade through this filth daily. Several have slipped and been injured,” residents said, blaming nearby dairy units for continuous water overflow and sludge accumulation.The issue gained political traction after Union MoS (railways) Ravneet Singh Bittu shared the video on social media, criticising the state govt and questioning public safety on city roads.

Residents alleged that repeated complaints have yielded no results and demanded strict action against dairy operators, along with a permanent solution for disposal of wastewater and animal waste.A senior municipal corporation official said the drain falls under the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), indicating a jurisdictional issue. Efforts to contact PWSSB officials for comment did not elicit a response.The incident has amplified calls for urgent civic intervention, with locals warning that such “hidden death traps” could lead to a major tragedy if not addressed immediately.