Gweru city council plumbers die in manhole

Two Gweru City Council plumbers tragically lost their lives this afternoon while working in a manhole in the Athlone suburb. The victims, a man and a woman, were attending to a severe sewer blockage when they were reportedly overcome by noxious gases.

Police have confirmed the heartbreaking incident, stating that both plumbers succumbed to gas inhalation shortly after entering the confined space. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the manhole continued to emit strong, pungent gases even after the bodies were retrieved, suggesting the dangerous conditions the workers were exposed to.

When our reporter arrived at the scene, a crowd of distressed residents and city officials had gathered, many visibly shaken by the incident. Rescue workers had managed to retrieve the two bodies, but the hazardous gases still lingered in the area, highlighting the severe risks involved in such maintenance work.

Gweru City Council has not yet issued an official statement, but the incident has sparked concerns among local residents about the safety protocols in place for workers handling such hazardous tasks. The tragic loss has raised pressing questions regarding the safety measures for council workers, especially those working in confined spaces such as manholes, where the presence of toxic gases can pose life-threatening risks.

Authorities have pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, with the aim of determining the cause and ensuring that proper safety standards are put in place to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

As Gweru mourns the loss of two dedicated workers, the city's officials are expected to address the incident in the coming days, with a focus on improving safety measures for workers involved in hazardous duties.