adminNqobile Tshili/ Loveness Bepete Chronicle Reporters
THE Bulawayo emergency services consisting of the Fire Brigade, ambulances and police were yesterday sent on a wild goose chase after receiving a false alarm that a National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) passenger train had derailed near Cement Side on the outskirts of the city.
After receiving the false distress call at about 3PM, the Fire Brigade dispatched four of its vehicles and police sent a team to attend the “accident”.
However, it emerged that the purported derailment was a hoax.
Fire Brigade’s acting senior divisional officer, Jabulani Ndlovu said after receiving the report of the accident from the police, he immedaitely dispatched rescue teams.
“We received a call from a police officer based at Bulawayo Central Police and we promptly responded only to learn later that it was a false alarm. We sent four of our vehicles as we thought it was a serious accident involving a passenger train,” said Ndlovu.
NRZ’s public relations officer Fanuel Masikati said they were shocked to hear about the alleged train derailment.
He said they had received numerous phone calls regarding the issue.
“Many people have been calling saying that there is a train which derailed but there is nothing like that. I was actually surprised to hear that, because all the trains which were supposed to pass through that place had already passed,” said Masikati.
After learning about the alleged derailment, a Chronicle news crew also rushed to the alleged scene and found police officers also searching for the derailed train while Fire Brigade teams were returning to the city saying it could have been a false alarm.
The police officers were also making phone calls saying they were trying to locate the exact spot where the accident occurred.
Online Reporter