Malawi VP Chilima visits thunderstorm victims: APM offer condolences  

Malawi’s State Vice President State Saulos Chilima on Saturday made a visits to the hailstorm torn areas of Area 49 and Kama  in Lilongwe  following a hail-storm which hit  the capital city  where a five year girl was electrocuted to death and also  leaving dozens homeless.

Chilima consoled the bereaved family of Samira Banda who was electrocuted after stepping on a fallen ESCOM live-wire as she escaped when the roof to her house was being blown-off.

“I am very saddened with the loss of a young girl. Losing a child in a family is always very painful,” said Chilima as he consoled the family.

Police said several houses in the area where poor families have built shaky dwelling structures were destroyed, most of them with their roofs blown off.

The hailstorms also destroyed Some Kauma Primary School ,Christian primary and secondary school

Kauma Community hallwhich housed Kauma Youth organization and Kauma CCAP church  h ad their roofs blown.

Chilima said the government, in partnership with international charity organizations, would move in quickly to assist the affected families with immediate needs.

MP for the area,  David Bisnowaty promised to provide relief support to his constituents and appealed to well-wishers to compliment government support by helping.

Most households may require urgent relief in the form of shelter, food and house hold utensils.

An earlier update from the country’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs said bad weather had killed five people, with 17 people seriously injured and a total of 4,933 houses, public and private institutions across the country demolished.

Meanwhile, President Peter Mutharika issued a statement on Saturday , saying he “ deeply regrets” the fatal accident caused by the thunderstorm.

“The President and Government extend their deepest condolences to the families of the victims of these fatal accidents, the Chiefs and the entire nation,” said Mutharika in a statement released by his deputy press secretary Timpuza Mwasambo Mwale.

The President pledged government support to the affected families.

The Salima-Nkhotakota road is impassable from a wash-away at Khombedza about 17 Kms from Salima Boma.

This is the rain season in Malawi and  according to weather forecasters, most parts of Malawi are expected to receive m ore than average rain fall that may result in heavy flooding, especially in floo d -prone areas like the Lower Shire Valley in the southern part.

Mutharika has since pleaded with all those residing in flood prone areas to “immediately relocate” to upper areas to avoid flood- generated accidents.

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