THREE PEOPLE PERISHED IN LIGHTNING ATTACK WHILE SCORES WERE INJURED DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON DOWNPOUR AND THUNDERSTORM IN THE TEA ESTATE.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

SEVEN Kenyans have died in two separately unique, but unrelated incidents in the past three days.

During this period of short rains season ,which is usually accompanied by thunderstorms, after a long spell of serious drought, three Kenyan tea pickers were struck dead by lightning in South Nandi district, about 40 kilometer south East of here.

Five other workers sustained serious injuries and burns and were hospitalized in critical condition at the nearby Nandi Hills District Hospital where they are receiving treatment for burns and shock.

The local police chief, Waithera Kipsoi, confirmed the incident and said the tea pickers were on normal duty at the Kibware Tea Estate when the tragedy occurred on Sunday afternoon.

She said the three men died on the spot. Good Samaritans and managers at the tea estate took the injured to the hospital. The three bodies were later fished out of the tea bushes and taken to Kapsabet District Hospital mortuary. The names of the victims could not be released immediately before their next of kin are notified of their deaths.

Meanwhile, the second, but unrelated incident occurred when four people drowned, and died when the boat they were sailing in capsized in Lake Victoria, near Bondo Town, about 50 miles north west of Kisumu City.

The victims, according to the local police boss, were passengers traveling from Wagusu to Orengo Beach. Their boat capsized in heavy storm near a place called Nyamakongo.

Two bodies have already been recovered, but two other are still missing by Tuesday afternoon. The search for the missing bodies are in progress, said the local OCPD, Ms Jostine Barmao.

Ms Barmao added that the survivors were rescued by fishermen in other boats and were later admitted to Bondo District Hospital for treatment.

The Bondo District Commissioner, Mr Salim Mohamed, immediately launched an urgent appeal to traders operating boats used by passengers to ensure they provided the passengers sailing in the lake waters with life jackets in order to reduce the number of causalities.

“The regulation requires the operator to provide their passengers with the life jackets before they board boats ready to sail in the lake waters. This must be strictly adhered to by any boat owners.The number of boat accidents along the beaches have increased and has reached an alarming proportion,” said the D.C.

In another shocking incident, the body of a man who went missing last week was found on the shore of lake Victoria. It was partly eaten, giving the credence that the man might have been devoured by crocodiles. The area is crocodile infested .

Mr Sylvester Omondi Omolo, 23 was last seen fishing at Bao Beach. A search by relatives found his half eaten body washed on the beach. This particular area is infested by crocodiles which have been attacking domestic animals and people in the recent past. His relatives and immediate family members went searching after Mr. Omolo failed to return home from his fishing expedition.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

– – –
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Subject: THREE TEA PICKERS DIE IN LIGHTNING STRIKE WHILE A MAN”S BODY IS FOUND DEVOURED BY CROCODILE