Zambia: A one year old baby in Kanchibiya District has drowned in a shallow well and lost his life. The heartbroken family had recently lost their house in an unexpected fire accident only three days ago.
Kanchibiya District Commissioner Chrispin Chilekwa has confirmed reports of the drowning. He announced that the unfortunate incident happened around 4:00 PM on November 29. The victim was at the time playing with his friends near his parents’ house.
The District Commissioner acknowledged that only three days ago, the same family had their house completely gutted by fire, losing most of their household goods, which were destroyed in the inferno.
“It is very sad that another tragedy has again stricken the same family in just a matter of days,” Chilekwa said.
Chilekwa revealed that the mother of the boy was busy doing some household chores at her elder sister’s house. At this time, the one-year-old boy fell into the well while playing outside with his friends.
He said the body of the boy was retrieved from the well by members of the community. He was then rushed to Chalabesa mini hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The District Commissioner has since urged residents to put necessary safety measures on their wells so as to prevent such calamities from happening in the community.
He said the tragic death of the child serves as a sad wake-up call to the community and district authorities to take measures to prevent such calamities from happening in the district.
Meanwhile, Majorly Chewe, Mother to the deceased boy, said that she did not notice that her child had gone to the neighbour’s water well. She revealed that she was busy at her sister’s house doing some household chores.
Chewe has described the death of her child as heartbreaking and unbearable.
“I do not understand why I am experiencing such a very difficult situation,” she said
And Kanchibiya District Disaster Management Committee (DMMC) has given the affected family some assorted items, which include beans, cooking oil, sugar, salt and some second-hand clothes, among other things.