Government to pay for treatment of Tarime crash survivors
A car accident victim, Josephat Amon (18) crying during the burial of 15 out of 16 casualties of two commuter vehicles, which collided in Komaswa Village in Tarime District. Josephat lost his father in the accident. PHOTO| BELDINA NYAKEKE
What you need to know:
Four people were rescued from the wreckage that had burst into flames, one died while being rushed to hospital
Tarime. The government has pledged to foot the bills of treating three survivors of a grisly Tarime car accident, which claimed lives of 16 people.
This was revealed during burials of 15 bodies of those who perished in the accident yesterday.
The accident occurred at Komaswa Village in Tarime District, when two commuter buses collided heads on before bursting into flames.
Speaking during the burial ceremony yesterday, the minister for Health, Community Development, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, said the government will make sure that the survivors get treated at any local hospital as per doctors’ advice.
She also said that officials from the Chief Government Chemist’s office were on their way to Bugando Hospital in Mwanza to conduct DNA tests on the samples of the deceased bodies in order to identify them.
“Our aim (the government) is to make sure that the identities of the deceased are known as soon as possible, that’s why we’ve deployed officials from Dar es Salaam,” said Ms Mwalimu.
A cloud of sadness hung at the scene as the bodies of those, who perished in the accident were laid to rest. The accident occurred on Monday.
Speaking to reporters during the ceremony, Mr Nyange Chacha, a motorcycle rider (Bodaboda), who rescued four people from the accident, said he rushed to the scene after he heard a loud bang.
Mr Chacha said he was forced to use a machete to cut some ropes, which were used to hold the rear door of one of the commuter buses.
“I managed to rescue four people before the fire got out of control,” he said.
However, one of those, who were rescued by Mr Chacha died on his way to the hospital.
For his part, Home Affairs minister Kangi Lugola urged both drivers and commuters to observe road safety regulations.
According to him, statistics show that over 80 per cent of road accidents were caused by reckless driving.
For his part, Mara Regional Commissioner Adam Malima said the region has given each family of the deceased Sh300,000 as condolences.
Preliminary investigations have established that heavy rains may have affected visibility, leading to the head-on collision in which both vehicles burst into flames.
