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When a Chronicle news crew arrived at the scene of the accident, ambulances from the Bulawayo City Council, the police and private players were busy rushing the injured to hospital.
A sombre atmosphere engulfed the place as the fire brigade officers struggled to rescue the survivors from the bus, which was reduced to a wreckage.
While the first aid team attended to some of the survivors, the fire fighters had a torrid time trying to rescue the trapped passengers including the bus driver, who sustained injuries.
The Officer Commanding Bulawayo Traffic Police, Superintendent Henry Mhlanga, the Officer Commanding Traffic Police in the Southern region, Chief Superintendent Peter Rwodzi and acting Matabeleland
North Provincial Administrator, Ms Nosizi Dube, were at the accident scene.
In separate interviews the visibly shocked survivors claimed that the bus driver was speeding.
“He was speeding and people were complaining but he ignored us. When he reached the bridge the bus burst the right front tyre and the driver lost control,” said Mr Trevor Sabatha.
“The bus hit the bridge pillars and at that time the remaining front tyre deflated resulting in the bus overturning.”
The survivors called for the cancellation of the bus company’s permit saying it had over the years caused many deaths due to frequent accidents.
“We are in a state of shock and we thank God that we are alive. This company should be banned from this route. Their buses are always involved in accidents and we no longer want them.”
Meanwhile, Ms Dube called for the tightening of traffic regulations in order to reduce carnage.
She also expressed concern at the Bulawayo Fire Brigade’s lack of equipment.
“I think there is a need to be strict especially with public transporters. Most buses plying this route are not roadworthy because they are not properly maintained.
“There is also a need to equip the civil protection unit with adequate equipment because it took them three hours to rescue some of the victims,” said Ms Dube.
“Bulawayo-Nkayi Road is in a bad state and something must be done. There are 23 buses operating along this route and 19 kombis excluding private vehicles.
“People have complained about the poor state of the road for a long time and it is high time that something is done. There is also the issue of narrow bridges that needs to be attended to”.
Speaking at the scene, Chief Supt Rwodzi said the police were investigating the cause of the accident and noted that the tyres of the bus were worn out.
He appealed to public transporters not to overwork drivers and urged drivers to desist from speeding and overloading in order to preserve life.
“There were 74 passengers on board. A man and a woman died on the spot. A total of 60 passengers were injured, 10 of them seriously.”
Online Reporter