West Region: Death toll of Dschang road accident rises to six.

According to the medic, 22 victims of the accident are receiving treatment at the Dschang Regional Hospital Annex, one transferred to the Bafoussam Referral Hospital in Kwekong and one already discharged.
Prof Michael Noubom assured that the health condition of all the victims is stable and they are all responding to treatment. 
The medic, it should be said, had in a release issued June 25, hours after the accident, confirmed five dead, 25 others severely injured, amongst them, a baby said to be aged between two to four years old.
The release indicated that 12 women are among those wounded. The official also identified 12 men and a baby, aged between two to four years old, among the victims. 
According to multiple reports, the accident involved an interurban mini-bus travelling from Bamenda in the North West Region to Douala, in the Littoral Region.
Sources say the accident happened when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure.

Dschang mayor steps in with assistance 
The Mayor of Dschang, Jacquis Gabriel Kemleu Tchabgou, has stepped in to assist the victims of the accident.
The municipal authority is reported to be offering basic food items and other necessities to the victims since the accident occurred.

Tragedy on Dschang killer road, one too many

It should be noted that the Dschang cliff, known for its dangerous landscape, has been the site of several tragic accidents over the years. 
The most recent of them was on January 27, 2021, when a collision between a minibus and a truck resulted in a fire that engulfed both vehicles. 
The intense flames claimed the lives of 53 people and left several others with severe burns and injuries. The accident was one of the deadliest in recent history at the Dschang cliff.
Meanwhile, on December 14, 2018, a bus carrying students from a school excursion had lost control and plunged off the cliff. 
The accident resulted in the deaths of 10 students, while more than 20 others sustained injuries ranging from minor to critical. 
The cause was later attributed to brake failure.
In the same light, a bus traveling towards Dschang had experienced brake failure and crashed into a rocky embankment on March 5, 2017. The impact killed 15 passengers instantly and injured several others. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3151 of Thursday June 27, 2024