It was horror today in Effurun, Headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State when 13 passengers were roasted beyond recognition.
Our correspondent who was at the scene gathered that the Delta State Mass Transit Bus, popularly known as “Uduaghan Bus” with registration number, Delta 14G7A DT was carrying 18 passengers from PTI Junction in Effurun to Enerhen Junction, when it suddenly exploded while it was still within the PTI road.
National Reformer learnt that there were women and children in the bus and they were all trapped inside the bus when it went up in flames.
Five passengers, it was further gathered, were able to escape from the burning Delta City Transit Bus, but 13 others were not that lucky as they were roasted. The driver and his conductor were among those said to have survived the Sunday horror in Effurun. But they were nowhere to be found at the time our correspondent got to the scene.
But another survivor, Martins, told National Reformer that; “The bus just took off from PTI junction and was heading towards Enerhen junction. I was going to Okumagba Avenue and hoped to come down at Enerhen. But less than three minutes when we took off, the bus exploded. There were many women and children in the bus. The fire consumed 13 of them, only five of us survived the incident. I noticed that one woman was carrying a jerry can of fuel in the bus.”
An eyewitness, Mr. Sam Itawansa, popularly known as ‘Sam and Sam,’ said he was in the neighborhood when the incident occurred about 1.30pm.
He said; “The Hiace Bus with registration number Delta 14C-7ADT loaded with passengers exploded right here. The fire was so severe. When fire fighters came, the people chased them away, saying they came late. 13 passengers lost their lives in the incident, only five of them survived.”
Another eyewitness, Mr. Chambalain Igedebor who claimed he saw it all, described the incident as horror.
Mr. Dickson O. Amromawhe, special Marshal and Partnership, State Coordinator of FRSC, Delta Sector Command, told our corresponded at the scene that 13 passengers trapped inside the exploded bus, describing the incident as unfortunate.
The DPO of Ebrumede Police Station, Mr. Ukoh who was at the scene with his men claimed that people in the area rained stones and other object on them when they arrived the scene, with one of them, Mr. Omini Arikpo from Cross River State sustaining a minor injury in the head , saying the incident was a sad one
Delta State Transport Commissioner, Hon. Ben Igbakpa, who also rushed to the scene of the incident told National Reformer that; “This is a very sad incident. I do not see why any reasonable person should carry a passenger with a Jerry can. We are going to carry out a proper investigation of this sad incident.
