Black Wednesday: mother, child, one other die, as 10 others suffer varying injuries from fatal electrocution in Gombe
No fewer than three persons including a mother and her daughter are confirmed dead from a transformer explosion which occurred on Wednesday, at Yaunde, Tumfure Akko Local Government of Gombe.
According to sources, the tragedy occurred when a transformer exploded due to the heavy wind that blew the high tension cable to touch the service line that brought power to the transformer.
Our correspondent gathered that the mother of four identified as Mrs. Patrick died with her daughter, as she was said to have woken up following the sudden power surge to switch off her refrigerator but was said to be electrocuted.
However, her daughter who went to touch the deceased in the midnight was also electrocuted following the current.
One other person, a man, was killed in similar way while trying to switch off their electrical gadgets within the neighbourhood.
One the houses on the same street belonging to one Pastor Solomon, of Cherubim and Seraphim Church also went up in flame.
The water pumping machine located below the water tank at the entrance of the house were burnt alongside other electrical appliances.
Confirming the sad event, Gombe State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Mahid Mu’azu said three persons were confirmed dead at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe.
Mua’zu said, “Two of them are women and one man. We are still investigating the cause of the incident but interim report said it was due to power surge.”
Meanwhile, The state Governor Muhammadu Yahaya who paid a condolence visit to the families of the victims donated N1.5 million to the affected families.
Yahaya directed the state emergency management agency (SEMA), to provide relief materials for the families who lost their property to the incident.
The Governor also directed Jos Electricity distribution Company (JEDC), to immediately look into the remote and immediate cause of the incident, in order to avert a repeat of the tragedy.
Attempts made to reach the head Corporate Communications of JEDC Dr. Elijah Adakole proved abortive as at the time of filing the report.
