Police said the tragic incident happened at the construction site near Gate No 2 of the Data Darbar complex. During ongoing work, a crane reportedly hit a wall, causing it to collapse suddenly.
A 38-year-old man identified as Shahid was standing nearby when the wall fell. He became trapped under the heavy debris. People present at the site rushed to help and managed to pull him out of the rubble with their own efforts.
Shahid was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, but he later died from his serious injuries. The incident shocked many visitors and workers present around the famous shrine area.
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Police quickly reached the site after receiving information and sealed the construction area to prevent further danger. DSP Hafiz Ubaidullah arrived at the scene and started an official investigation while collecting evidence.
Authorities later arrested five people over alleged negligence. Those taken into custody include the safety officer and crane staff members identified as Tahir, Hamza, Mudassar, Ameer Muawiya, and Luqman. Police have registered a case against them.
The accident has once again raised concerns about safety measures at the ongoing Data Darbar expansion project. Many locals believe construction work in crowded religious areas requires strict monitoring and safety rules.
This tragedy comes only months after another deadly incident at the same project site. In January, a young mother and her minor daughter died after falling into an open manhole near the under-construction area.
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Following that earlier tragedy, the Punjab government suspended the entire project team involved in the Data Darbar expansion and the Bhati Chowk remodelling project after an inquiry pointed to negligence.
The project consultant, NESPAK, was also issued a show-cause notice, and authorities recommended suspending the resident engineer responsible for supervision.
Officials say investigations into the latest wall collapse are still ongoing, and further action may be taken depending on the findings.
