CEAR Locomotive cuts off pupil’s arm in Balaka

A Standard 1 pupil is lying in agony and battling for his life at Balaka District Hospital after a Cargo train belonging to Central East African Railways (CEAR) run over and completely choped off  his hand.

Malawi Police confirmed the developmet and said the incident happened on Wednesday 15th February 2016 when the child  alongside his friends were going to Muthe Primary School which is located near Nkaya Train Station.

“This accident happened yesterday (Wednesday) at around 7:00am when the child and his friends boarded one of the empty wagon that a locomotive Registration Number C322 was pulling from Limbe heading Nkaya,” explained Balaka Police Deputy Publicist Sergeant Gerald Sumaili.

Added Sumaili: “Unfortunately when the slowing train was reinstalling into its normal speed after passing Nkaya Turn-Out Point, the child lost balance and fell off the open wagon  laying his left arm on the railway line hence one of the wheels run over it and the arm got completely separated from his body”.

The Police have repeatedly warned children and the general public at large against the tendecy of jumping on a moving train as they move along the railway as the fastest means of transport to school by the kids.

The tragedy happened months after Balaka Police Station through Community Policing Branch conducted intensive awareness raising campaign on the dangers and consequences of trespassing into railway lines.

Last year, a life was lost and one person had his leg cut off by a speeding train.

The Wednesday incident is the first to be recorded this year in Nkaya and Balaka District as a whole according to Sergeant Sumaili.

Meanwhile, Sumaili has warned the general public against trespassing the railway lines.

Parents have also been asked to escort their children to their respective schools that are located near the railway lines.

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