It was all real!, clear! and gloomy!. I had so many thoughts running through my mind when i saw what happened. I used to imagine it because some incidents i watched in movies doesn't look original. Its all in the movie anyway, i thought.
It happened on a sunny afternoon, it was around 4pm. I had helped my mum with her travel bag to the roadside. By the roadside was a filling station, my dad's shop was beside this filling station. I took my mum's bag into my dad shop while i awaits her to come. She was going to attend her friend's mum funeral in a far away place. So, all the people going are to gather in my dad's shop which is by the roadside so that the bus that they shattered will took them all at once from there.
Some minutes later, my mum appeared with four other people. They were discussing as they come closer. Why they continue there gists, others came to join them too. Although, the driver delayed them for about 30mins but after he explained to them that he went to the mechanic to put the vehicle in good condition, they all calm down.
Finally, the vehicle zoom off. I was already missing my mum. My other siblings were also in the shop. I watched the vehicle until it's out of site. Then, the unexpected happened.
On getting into my dad's shop, i saw flames and people running helter - skelter towards the road that i just left watching now. I ran very fast thinking about my mum and others in the bus. My dad didn't allow me to go beyond the petrol station. I was watching the accident afar off. Two white bus had cut fire at once. There are about 18 passengers in each vehicle including the drivers.
It was a terrible experience, the sky becomes dark. i cried. I saw my dad making calls. It was a relieve that the bus my mum boarded had passed the side before the incident occurred. I saw people pouring water to stop the fire before the fire fighters came, but the fire become more aggressive that no one could move closer anymore.
I was praying sadly in my spirit that God should save this people but i already know that it's too late. Who would survive such a fire that i could also feel the heat from where i stood watching. Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! That's what people are saying. I heard someone said, there's a pregnant woman in one of vehicle too.
After about 2hrs, the fire stopped. I heard that at least 8 - 10 pm were rescued but majority died before getting to the hospital, only three survived. By the time corpses are laid on the road, none of them is recognisable. They were burn to the bones, hoozing flames.
Then it dawn on me that life is precious and humans only lived ones and for all except those whom God spared. It become a reality that accidents don't just happened in movies but in real life. I was just 8yrs old when i witnessed this event.
I spent all my day thanking God for my life and everything and i also prayer that the soul of the dead rest in peace. I prayed for my mum safe trip to the place and when coming back. I also prayed that God should preserve everyone traveling everyday for safety. I had sleepless nights for days because i could not get the images off my mind.
However, as i days passed, i began to clear my mind. I heard that all of them were buried by the same roadside because there is no means of locating each of their families and even the ones whose family later called the police, they don't even want to see it.
Its still fresh in my mind like it happened yesterday. Drivers should always take cautioned too ones the engine is overheating, they should do the needful and not ignore it for long because thats the cause of the accident and the second vehicle that overtake the one overheating is having a exhaust pipe which leave smoke trail. The smoke affected the second vehicle overheating and both cut fire instantly. The doors locked automatically that only the passengers and drivers in the front are safe.
So, anytime I'm traveling, i always make sure i picked the right vehicle and not just that, I prayed for safety all through my journey.
Thanks for reading!