Africa-Press – Tanzania. SINGIDA: THIRTEEN passengers died and 32 others were injured following a bus they were travelling in that collided with a train in Manyoni, Singida Region.
The fatal crash occurred barely three days after another road tragedy in Lindi Region claimed the lives of 15 people.
In Wednesday’s accident, an upcountry bus, property of Ally’s Star Bus Company with registration number T178 DVB, rammed into a train with registration number V951 9006.
Singida Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stella Mutabihirwa, said that the accident occurred on Wednesday, November 29, around 4:00 am.
Dr Furaha Mwakafwila, the Manyoni District Medical Officer, confirmed that there were 13 deaths and 32 injured passengers. He stated that the injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at Manyoni District Hospital and St Gaspar in Itigi.
However, he was unable to disclose the names of those who lost their lives or those who were injured in the accident. Singida Regional Commissioner Peter Serukamba, who arrived at the accident scene, called on Tanroads management to ensure that more signposts are placed in the area to indicate that it is a dangerous zone to cross without taking precautions.
He also urged them to construct larger road humps in the area so that drivers can slow down when approaching it. The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) issued a statement, confirming the incident which occurred at a railway crossing in the Manyoni area.
The crash took place during the early hours of the morning when the bus attempted to cross the railway. According to the statement, out of the total 13 dead, six were women and the remaining seven were men.
“The TRC will continue to update the public as new information emerges,” read the statement. “The corporation continues to urge motorists to adhere to road traffic regulations and rail signs to avoid crashes,” the statement stated. The corporation also sent its condolences to the families of the deceased, wishing the injured a quick recovery so they can continue with economic activities for building the nation.
On Sunday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered the defence and security organs to enhance inspection and law enforcement measures to control crashes towards the end of the year festivities. Her order was in response to a tragic accident that claimed the lives of 15 people in Lindi Region on Sunday, leaving 26 others injured.
“As we are heading towards the end of the year, I am directing road security and defence agencies countrywide to increase law enforcement and inspection,” Dr Samia posted on her X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“I send my condolences to all those who lost their loved ones in the road accident which occurred at Mtama area in Lindi Region and killed 15 people… May the Almighty God have mercy on them (the deceased) and grant the injured a speedy recovery,” she wrote.
The passengers died after a bus they were travelling in crashed at Mputa area in Mtama District, Lindi Region, on Sunday. Lindi Regional Police Commander, ACP John Makuri, when briefing the media at a press conference, noted that the accident occurred on Sunday morning after the driver of the bus owned by Baraka Classic Company failed to control it.
Elaborating, he said the bus enroute from Newala to Dar es Salaam crashed as a result of brake failure, leading to the death of passengers and two pedestrians on the spot.
“The incident occurred at around 7 am, leaving 12 passengers dead on the spot and two pedestrians who were walking along the way,” he pointed out.
He added that the injured (36) were taken to Nyangao Referral Hospital for treatment, where at the same time the bodies of the deceased were preserved at the hospital’s mortuary.
On her part, Lindi Regional Commissioner Ms. Zainabu Telack thanked the public that turned up to help and ferry the injured and dead to the institution. Speaking on the incident, some eyewitnesses said efforts to rush the injured to the hospital and collect the bodies to the mortuary were temporarily hindered by a swarm of bees stinging, chasing, and scaring them.
“It was so difficult for the villagers to assist as a result of a swarm of bees, which invaded the place, particularly surrounding the bus. They were stinging and chasing those who were trying to rescue the injured,” said Juma Machalia.
He further said that the swarm must have been disturbed after the bus finally rested on a tree that had beehives.
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