Two dead in Garissa as sewage unblocking exercise turns tragic

Redcross officials,the fire brigade and the members of the public
retrieving the body of the two deceased in sewage manhole . Kulan Photo

GARISSA—An exercise to unblock a clogged sewer line in Garissa town on Monday turned tragic when two workers employed by the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company (GAWASCO) slipped into the manhole as they were working on it.

Area police commander David Kirina, confirming the 11 am incident said the deceased were working on the 15 meters deep manhole next to Equity Bank when one of them slipped as he was trying to get out.

“One of the deceased successfully unblocked the sewage when he was climbing up on his way out that is when he was swept away by sewage water.His colleague tried to pull him out but was overpowered and both drowned into the manhole,” Kirina said.

He further added that the sewage had not been unblocked for such a long time and GAWASCO employees should be extra careful and cautious when dealing with such an exercise.

Business operations were brought to a standstill as hundreds of Garissa residents converged to have a glimpse on the search and rescue operation.

It took more than 3 hours for officials of the Red Cross and the fire brigade department to retrieve the bodies.

The bodies were later taken to Garissa referral hospital mortuary for preservation and postmortem.

Garissa Water CEC Issa Dubow who termed the incident as regrettable and unfortunate said the water company will foot all the funeral expenses of the deceased.

The victims hail from neighboring Mwingi sub-county in Kitui county.