The Delta government on Thursday lamented the tragedy that struck following a Wednesday night rainstorm that claimed no fewer than seven lives, injuring several others.

The information commissioner, Charles Aniagwu, who disclosed this at a news conference in Asaba, said the victims included a 10-year-old boy.

According to Mr Aniagwu, the death occurred in the Oko axis of Oshimili and Okpanam, Oshimili South North council areas.

“The storm that greeted the downpour on Wednesday, in the Oko axis, we lost six persons as the rainstorm fell a building and some trees and the collapsed structure led to the death of six persons,” stated the commissioner. “One other is critically injured, and his is being attended to at the Asaba Specialist Hospital, while five others are in stable condition but sustain some level of injury.”

He added, “There is also another one that is so pathetic. In Okotomi Community in Okpanam, the state government is intervening with flood control measures to save the community from flooding and to open up the area. But on account of the rainstorm flood on Wednesday, a 10-year-old lad, who was returning from church in the evening, slipped and fell into the drain that was being constructed.”

The commissioner explained that the flood swept the boy because of the large volume of water at the construction site.

“This is quite disturbing, and we pray that God will grant their families the strength to bear that loss. Even as we ask God to comfort us as a state,” said Mr Aniagwu.

He mentioned that the government team coordinated by the secretary to the state government, Patrick Ukah was on the ground to ensure that the body was recovered.

Mr Aniagwu also said the government was informed that a petrol tanker skipped and hanged on Udu Bridge, adding that despite the crisis, the security personnel have been contacted to cordon off the place.

He advised the people to stay away from the truck to avoid any accident.

(NAN)