By: Alieu Ceesay
The small community of Kerr Galo in The Gambia’s North Bank Region has been left in shock and mourning after the tragic deaths of seven electricians who lost their lives while working to replace aging electric poles.
According to local reports, an electric pole collapsed onto live wires, causing the deadly electrocution. The lives of these hardworking individuals were taken in an instant, leaving behind grieving families and communities grappling with sudden loss.
The Gambia Police Force’s Public Relations Officer, Modou Musa Sisawo, confirmed the incident via the police’s Facebook page, stating, “The police are currently at the scene to investigate and determine the circumstances leading to this tragic incident.”
While early reports identified the victims as the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) staff, NAWEC’s Public Relations Officer, Piere Silver, swiftly refuted this claim. He clarified,
“These individuals are not serving as the working staff of NAWEC. They are contractors, contracted by a company to do the work—not by NAWEC, not directly from NAWEC.”
A subsequent Facebook post by NAWEC revealed that the workers were employed by KEI Construction Company, a private entity contracted for the job.
Meanwhile, the Gambia Police Force, in an update, said: ” Following the tragic incident that resulted in seven deaths, the victims are currently at Essau Hospital. The police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the public will be updated as more information becomes available,”
The incident has left the community in deep trauma as communities in the area struggle to comprehend the magnitude of the loss. Families are now faced with the difficult task of coming to terms with the sudden, devastating deaths of their loved ones.
