By Isharo Odafe
A yet to be identified number of people have been wounded following a collapse of an overhead water tank at Adeje community in Okpe local government area of Delta State.
It was gathered that sime buildings were destroyed while some shops suffered damages after the overhead water tank allegedly made of substandard material fell, crushing into the buildings in the community.
Okpe, is the local government area of the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who is presently on a two weeks leave
Trouble started on Sunday October 13, 2024, around 1:00am in the dead of the night while Indigenes and other residents were asleep.
The 30, 000 litres overhead tank collapsed,when the stanchion holding the tank gave way maybe due to overweight.
Speaking during inspection at the scene of the incident, the Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Dr Isaac Wilkie, said heads may roll.
Represented by the General Manager, Delta State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, STOWASSA, Engr Anthony Unuafe, the Water Resources Commissioner, described the incident as regrettable, and expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost.
He stated that the essence of the visit was not to apportion blame to the contractor in charge of the water scheme nor the community where the project is domiciled.
He noted it was to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident with a view to unravel the circumstances surrounding the collapse and to find ways to restore the water scheme for the benefit of the community.
He added that though strict action would be taken against any one culpable in the collapse of the water tank if it is discovered that someone failed to do the right thing.
Unuafe said that the government would take all necessary steps to remedy the situation and avert future occurrences.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness, Mr. Sunday Aju, who spoke with newsmen, said that the incident occurred around 1:oo am on Sunday, October, 2024 while he and his family were deeply asleep.
He said the stanchion holding the overhead tank collapsed from the water scheme in the premises adjacent to his house and crushed into the rooms.
Another eyewitness, Augustina Areyen, an air stylist, said that the stanchion carrying the overhead tank gave way in the middle of the night on Sunday, causing the tank to fall and thereby destroying her hair saloon and other occupants of the building were also injured in the incident.
