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One dies, scores injured as makeshift bridge collapses

14 Dec, 2018 - 00:12 0 Views
One dies, scores injured as makeshift bridge collapses

The ManicaPost

Nyore Madzianike Senior Reporter
ONE person died and 30 others injured when a suspended makeshift bridge across Pungwe River, in Honde Valley, collapsed after failing to sustain their weight. More than 50 people allegedly tried to pass through the suspended bridge it at once, leading to the tragedy.
They were coming from a social soccer match at Murara business centre.

The makeshift bridge connects Muparutsa and Murara villages.
Mutasa district medical officer Dr Cephas Fonde said out of the 17 injured people seven were critical.

He said one patient was transferred to Mutare Provincial Hospital due to the critical nature of the injuries.

He said the victims sustained broken legs, hands and deep cuts on the head.
“On Sunday at around 5pm we received a call saying a Murara bridge had collapsed and we dispatched two ambulances,” he said.

“We admitted 17 people who had been injured, and seven were critical. The other 10 sustained soft tissue injuries.

One person unfortunately died, and another victim was transferred to Mutare Provincial Hospital for specialised management. We discharged the others, although some are still receiving treatment,” he said.

Dr Fonde said a postmortem on Francis Mutsegota (33) (deceased) revealed that he crashed his head against a rock and sustained serious head injuries.
“It was unfortunate that Francis Mutsegota died,” he said.

He thanked the community and organisations that chipped with support following the accident.

Narrating the events of the day from the hospital bed, Mr Parudzai Mundodzi said he was lucky to be alive.

“I cannot believe that I am still alive,” he said.
“It was after the game between Swimming FC and Leopard Stars, the two big teams that command a lot of support in Honde Valley. There were lots of people and after the game people were celebrating on their way back home, and I am sure the bridge failed to sustain the weight of the people who were crossing over it at once. There were more than 50 people on the bridge at once. I only heard a cracking sound and the rest was a disaster,” he said.

Mr Mundodzi, who broke his leg among other injuries, said those who were thrown on the river banks were the most injured.
He said they landed on hard surface.

A distraught Leopard Stars coach Luckmore Wairesi blamed the tragedy on poor maintenance of the makeshift bridge.

“We were lucky that after the match players from both teams remained at the ground packing their kits. We only rushed to the bridge after hearing the noise of the collapsing bridge and loud screams from the victims,” he said.

Wairesi attributed the collapse of the bridge to the ageing materials.
He said the makeshift bridge was erected over 15 years ago.
“Yes people were celebrating and could have walked on the bridge in their numbers, but lack of regular maintenance contributed to its collapse,” he said.

Mutasa North MP Cde Chido Madiwa and other villagers told The Manica Post that bridge should be repaired urgently or risk having people swept while trying to cross Pungwe River.

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