By Sama Wesley
Two children aged 10 and 12 years drown on Wednesday 17, 2025 when they were swept away by running water in the Bayelle neighbourhood. Their copses were found a couple of kilometres down stream at Mulang.
Close relations say the children were sent to dump domestic waste in a nearby steam but unfortunately were swept away by the fast running water current.
The elder child, Rapha James reportedly slipped and lost his slippers and in an attempt to retrieved it was swept down stream. The younger sister Melorine in a desperate attempt to save the brother was dragged down by the powerful water current..
The third child who was with them alerted neighbors who is a desperate search couldn’t find them. The army rescue was called in and immediately started a thorough search extending down stream but could not find them either.
The search was postponed to the next day, Thursday September 18, 2025 and the search areas was extended from mile II Nkwen down stream to the Mulang neighborhood. Residence of the neighbourhoods down stream joined the search before both bodies were found in the low laying areas of Mulang.
An autopsy was carried out by medical personnel of the Bamenda Regional Hospital before both corpses were handed to the family for burial.
Melorine was buried at the Bamenda Municipal cemetery while the corpse of James was deposited at the Bamenda Regional Hospital mortuary pending traditional rights and burial.
It should be noted that this is the second case of children drowning within two weeks in Bamenda.
Captain Taku Paul, commander of the Bamenda Army Rescue Unit has called on residents of Bamenda toi exercise caution and carry out safety measures both ant home and out of home during this period of heavy rains He also encouraged the inhabitants of Mulang quarter to be pro-active and seek immediate assistance in situations such as these.
