CHAOS AT SERULE BRIDGE AS A1 CLOSES FOR 15 HRS

Onalenna Kelebeile | Monday February 3, 2014 16:18

Onalenna Kelebeile

Staff Writer

SERULE: Heavy downpour in northern Botswana caused havoc to A1 road users as it rendered it inaccessible last Friday for 15 hours. It was not until 10pm that police allowed the first vehicles to cross the bridge.

Around 3pm some desperate commuters were seen braving the unfavorable situation and holding each other's hands to cross over the bridge on foot.

Commuters in their private vehicles and in public transport including horse and trailer trucks watched in despair as the aggressive and extremely high volume current swept over the Serule River bridge towards Sese gate forcing the police to close the road as there were fears that the bridge could have been washed away.

The National Disaster Management office also sent sms alerts via Mascom and Orange networks warning the public that the A1 road at Serule was impassible.

Public transporters bound for Francistown and beyond, had to divert from Serule, back to Palapye, then go through Serowe, Letlhakane, to Fransistown, at extra costs.

Other buses that were bound for the northern side of the country through Francistown could not make their way, same as those who were from the sourthern direction.

About a thousand commuters and over a hundred vehicles swamped the scene on either side of the bridge as people hoped that the highly aggressive waters would subside and allow them access to their destinations.

Some buses returned to their departure points as horse and trailers, most of which were to deliver fuel to the northern side of the bridge, remained stranded at the scene.

The continuous rain also made the situation more difficult. The situation made Serule junction extremely busy as people thronged the filling station and adjacent Down Town Restaurant looking for food.

'We arrived here at the bridge by 7 am and we waited hoping that the waters would subside only for it to increase in volume locking us totally out. We had nothing to eat as you can see,' said one horse and trailer truck driver. Those who crossed on foot also faced a challenge as there was no transport to take them to their destinations as the vehicles were trapped on the opposite side.

Minister of Transport and Communications Nonofho Molefhi who was an a trip to Francistown arrived at the scene in the afternoon after being informed about the situation.

He arrived in a BDF chopper after assessing the extent of the floods and advised people to exercise extreme caution and avoid taking risks. He also advised them to even consider returning and travelling the next day when the situation was better.

Serowe District Traffic Officer Superintendent Otsile Baodirile said during an interview that they could not allow people into such waters but they would observe the situation to see if it was safe to cross. 'If we are suspicious we will wait for experts from the Department of Roads to inspect the bridge first. The water is subsiding but I still urge people to use alternative routes and those who have not yet departed should wait until the next day,' he said.

He added that it was on account of the floods that the road was closed and explained that the floods started at Moreomabele village. The A1 road was reopened for use at 10pm on Friday and by Saturday morning the situation had normalised.

They gave an excuse that they had to urgently attend funerals therefore they could not have their trips aborted. Even elderly women followed suit accompanied by a young couple carrying a small baby. The situation proved impossible for the police to control. Commuters in their private vehicles and in public transport including horse and trailer trucks watched in despair as the aggressive and extremely high volume current swept over the Serule River bridge towards Sese gate forcing the police to close the road as there were fears that the bridge could have been washed away.

The National Disaster Management office also sent sms alerts via Mascom and Orange networks warning the public that the A1 road at Serule was impassible.Public transporters bound for Francistown and beyond, had to divert from Serule, back to Palapye, then go through Serowe, Letlhakane, to Fransistown, at extra costs.Other buses that were bound for the northern side of the country through Francistown could not make their way, same as those who were from the sourthern direction. About a thousand commuters and over a hundred vehicles swamped the scene on either side of the bridge as people hoped that the highly aggressive waters would subside and allow them access to their destinations. Some buses returned to their departure points as horse and trailers, most of which were to deliver fuel to the northern side of the bridge, remained stranded at the scene. The continuous rain also made the situation more difficult.

The situation made Serule junction extremely busy as people thronged the filling station and adjacent Down Town Restaurant looking for food. 'We arrived here at the bridge by 7 am and we waited hoping that the waters would subside only for it to increase in volume locking us totally out. We had nothing to eat as you can see,' said one horse and trailer truck driver. Those who crossed on foot also faced a challenge as there was no transport to take them to their destinations as the vehicles were trapped on the opposite side.

Minister of Transport and Communications Nonofho Molefhi who was an a trip to Francistown arrived at the scene in the afternoon after being informed about the situation. He arrived in a BDF chopper after assessing the extent of the floods and advised people to exercise extreme caution and avoid taking risks. He also advised them to even consider returning and travelling the next day when the situation was better.Serowe District Traffic Officer Superintendent Otsile Baodirile said during an interview that they could not allow people into such waters but they would observe the situation to see if it was safe to cross. 'If we are suspicious we will wait for experts from the Department of Roads to inspect the bridge first.

The water is subsiding but I still urge people to use alternative routes and those who have not yet departed should wait until the next day,' he said. He added that it was on account of the floods that the road was closed and explained that the floods started at Moreomabele village. The A1 road was reopened for use at 10pm on Friday and by Saturday morning the situation had normalised.