UNICAL STAMPEDE: 8 Discharged, 7 Still Hospitalized... Lawmaker Sympathizes With Victims
By Abraham UKPA
Following the Stampede that rocked the University of Calabar over the weekend which led to15 students being rushed to hospital, 8 of them have been discharged from the Accident and Emergency unit of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital while 7 of the victims are still hospitalized.
The stampede occurred during GSS examinations.
As of press time, two students are in critical condition while the pregnant woman was kept in a separate ward.
Other students who sustained various degrees of injury including fracture and bruises are responding to treatment.
When contacted, a parent of one of the victims told The Beagle News that his daughter, ( name withheld) was billed to write the exam but couldn’t because she sustained injuries while she was trying to escape the shoving from others.
“The facilities were not enough and some were asked to stay outside despite the heavy downpour experienced on Friday night.
Because of that, she did not know where the hole was and she fell. Fortunately, she was helped up by other students, but she hurt her leg and sustained other injuries,” the parent said.
The students expressed worry over the ugly situation and called school authourities to do something to forestall future ugly occurrence.
Meanwhile, the member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency and Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, Rt. Hon. Bassey Akiba, has expressed sadness over the stampede which occurred when students drawn from different Faculties of the University of Calabar, scheduled to take GSS Examination were struggling to gain access to the Examination Hall.
In a statement, Hon. Bassey Akiba, said the tragic incident was regrettable, adding that the harrowing experience by the young and promising students is a sad commentary in their quest to acquire quality education and become better citizens of the society.
The lawmaker called on the University Management to set up an investigative panel to look into the remote and immediate causes of the stampede with a view to forestalling future occurrence.
He sympathized with the victims and offered his heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
