Poor drainage systems enroute DLA road, Jesus Saves, Infant Jesus, others in Asaba, Delta State, on Thursday allegedly killed a pregnant woman and three teenagers after a heavy rainfall that left its residents transfixed in the early hours.
It was gathered that the victims unknowingly were trapped inside the heavy downpour in the early hours and were swept into the poor drainage systems where they were soaked in the flood water sufficiently before giving the ghost.
The victims, identified as Rosemary Iyamah, Paul Nwanibi, Celestine Chigozie and Emeka Nwaru, police public Relations officer in the State, DSP Celestina Kalu said, were evacuated to the federal medical centre (FMC) mortuary, Asaba, disclosing that gully erosion in the areas swept them into the drainage systems where they were soaked in the flood water.
Worried by the impact of flood water of the Socio-Economic life of Asaba residents, the State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa had earlier urged the contractors handling the ongoing drainage projects along Okpanam raod, DLA road, Jesus Saves and others, to accelerate action in its completion.
But on the spot assessment of the incident, the governor in anger ordered the contractors’ arrest, saying that his administration will not tolerate shoddy execution of contract awards.
Dr. Okowa expressing vexation on the devastating impacts of the flood menace in the areas, said that only channelisation of the complete drains to the terminal point and natural waterways, would address the environmental stress caused by the flood, especially after every rainfall.(Leadership)