Mile 2 Nkwen Tragedy: BUNS, MINTP Announce Safety Measures, Console Victims’ Families
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| The Temporary Pedestrian Crossing Before the Accident |
By Raymond Dingana
Days after a tragedy struck the Bamenda III Municipality following the collapse of a temporary pedestrian crossing at the Mile 2 Bridge, anger and emotions have risen across the community, and this is understandable.
Three people died, including Lum Laureen, and Njini Courage. Many others were rescued and taken to health facilities for treatment.The population expressed deep disappointment after the incident. However, this concern did not go unnoticed.
Officials Respond to the Incident
BUNS Construction Company and the Ministry of Public Works,(MINTP) through its North West Regional Delegation, acted quickly. They sent messages of condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, and words of encouragements to those who survived but were affected.
In an interview, the Project Director of BUNS, Mr. Ngong Ignatius, and the North West Regional Delegate of Public Works, Mr. Nfor Cyprian, both stressed that such a calamity must never happen again.
“First of all, we want to condole with the families affected. As a company, we will continue to send our condolences to the bereaved once the number of persons has been identified. We are very sorry for what happened. We know it was something unexpected,”
Ngong Ignatius said.
He added:
“We are praying that such an incident will not occur again as we continue our work in Bamenda.”
Mr. Nfor Cyprian also spoke about what happened.
“We lost three people as a result of the incident. As of now, the doctor has confirmed that the three dead are women. The army rescue team rescued more than eight persons. Five people with minor injuries were taken to the hospital and are now out of danger, though they are still receiving treatment.”
Way Forward: How Authorities Plan to Prevent Recurrence
Officials from BUNS and MINTP agreed that a proper and solid pedestrian walkway is necessary. They said that even after the incident, some people had still been using the path walking in the stream.
“We are going to take all precautions to construct something very solid. We promise the population that we will build a strong structure on both sides of the bridge to avoid overcrowding while we continue the work. We will ensure the pedestrian side is very solid,”
both authorities reiterated.
Warning to the Public During Rainfall
MINTP’s Regional Delegate, and BUNS Project Director also warned the public to be careful during heavy rains.
“The pedestrian tracks we are building are temporary. I want to strongly ask the population to be very vigilant. If you notice any situation that looks unsafe especially if there is flooding, please be observant and take care."
Ngong Ignatius added that when the water level is high and the current is strong, people should not cross.
"Please, people should go around using the deviation indicated by the SDO. So it should not be crowded. If possible, wait for the rain to calm down before crossing."
he said.
As road works continue for the Bamenda Urban Crossing, authorities say they will increase safety measures. The public is also urged to take their own safety seriously.
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