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Six survivors of Tunduru lorry crash battle for life
2006-04-12 07:45:55
By Agustino Chindiye, PST
Six of the survivors of the fatal lorry accident on the slopes of Matemanga Mountain in Tunduru, Ruvuma Region have been transferred to Ndanda Mission Hospital for further medical attention.
According to a teacher from Kiumma Secondary School, Rose Liviga, two of the victims Anas Milanzi and Rehema Malipesa were in critical condition.
’’They underwent surgery soon after admission to the hospital,’’ she said.
Four other students were also transferred to the same hospital. She named them as Hamza Mohamed, Sadik Khalifan, Maimuna Waziri and Fadhili Mponda,
’’The school’s administration decided to cover the transport costs to Ndanda to save their lives,’’ she said.
Five students of Kiumma Secondary School died at the crash site in Tunduru and 35 others were injured when a lorry they were travelling in overturned on Songea – Tunduma stretch.
Meanwhile, five bodies of the diseased students were taken to their home villages for burial. The school covered the costs for funeral arrangements as well.
The body of the late Galus Lombo was taken to Songea and those of Rehema Telela, Fatu Sulemani, Ausi Chimkambo and Rashid Saidi were driven to Tunduru for burial.
Onesmo Msemwa, 40, the driver of the lorry involved in the accident with registration number, TZB 910 is still at large. He disappeared soon after the accident.
The lorry was loaded with bags of maize.
A total of 48 students of Kiumma Secondary School had boarded the lorry on their way home for mid-term holiday.
Others who sustained injuries are Boniface Sinja Haule, Sweetbert Msojele, Abdala Abdala, Abasi Milanzi, Sharifa Mkwenda, Fatuma Mponda and Rehema Malipesa.
According to eyewitnesses, the lorry also carried bags of rice and beans and appeared overloaded as was estimated to weigh about 12 tonnes heading for Tunduru from Songea.
The student-passengers were believed to have paid 3,500/- each as fare.
However, on reaching Mt.Matemanga escarpment, about 40 kilometres from Tunduru, the lorry failed to descend the steep slope and overturned.
The injured passengers were treated at Kiumma Health Centre, but according to an official of the centre, Titus Tumbu , 12 seriously wounded students were transferred to Tunduru District Hospital.
Ruvuma Regional Police Commander Falhum Mshana confirmed the accident occurred. The police are looking for him.
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