No fewer than 19 persons lost their lives in Doguwa local government area of Kano state after their vehicle was washed away by heavy downpour.
Confirming the incident, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Dr. Saleh Jili said the driver lost control of the vehicle in the middle of the bridge.
He maintained that at the time of filing this report, over fifteen bodies have been recovered while search continues to recover the remaining bodies.
“The bus was dragged to the stream by heavy rainfall. All the 19 passengers were swept away. Six dead bodies were recovered instantly while the number kept increasing, as at now 18 bodies have been buried as one person is still missing”
Dr. Saleh Juli said SEMA would visit the families of the deceased to condole them and deliver relief materials.
The Executive Secretary urged the general public to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse especially during rainy season to avoid flooding and other environmental hazards.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria, the District Head of Doguwa, Mallam Yusif Umar Doguwa expressed sadness over the demise of the victims whom he said were on their way from Riruwai market.
He explained the vehicle was washed away by the flood after the engine went off in the middle of the bridge while the driver was passing through.
“We have not gotten any survivors so far even though the search is still ongoing”
Doguwa town has been thrown into deep sorrow following the incident as search teams kept recovering bodies and burying them according to Islamic rites.
Khadijah Aliyu