Hailstorm destroys roofs at Chinsali schools

A HAILSTORM has destroyed roofs of five classroom blocks at Mishishi primary and secondary schools in Nkakula ward in Chinsali the Mayor Mr Thomas Mutale confirmed yesterday.

Mr Mutale said in an interview that the roofs of the five classroom blocks were blown off last Wednesday by a huge hail storm which relentlessly battered the school structures for about an hour.

He said office documents and pupil’s end of term examination papers were soaked in the hail storm which started around 16.00 hours.

The two schools, with more than 500 pupils, were in a bad state and were conducting classes in the open, he said.

‘‘Fortunately, none of the pupils was injured as most of them had already left the school premises while the few remaining pupils managed to run for their lives,’’ Mr Mutale said.

He appealed Government to intervene and replace the blown off roofs to avoid the building structures from being damaged by the rains.

Mr Mutale said the storm also blew off the roof of a 1 x 3 class room block at Chinsali Day Secondary School and the roof of a teachers’ house at Nkula Primary School.

‘‘The storm experienced in Chinsali did not stop at destroying classroom blocks at Mishishi primary and secondary schools but also a 1 by 3 classroom block at Chinsali Day Secondary School, a staff house at Nkula Primary School and several other structures,” Mr Mutale said.

Meanwhile, Chinsali Central Member of Parliament Kalalwe Mukosa said he was saddened by the disaster which happened when Government was working tirelessly to improve school infrastructure.

‘‘I am saddened by the development because it has happened at a time we are trying to work hard to attend to other schools that have been blown off in the past.

Therefore, it is a terrible disaster for the people of Chinsali, we shall do everything possible to engage relevant authorities so that the effects of this disaster can be mitigated,’’ Mr Mukosa said