15 UNICAL students injured during stampede in examination venue

About 15 students of the University of Calabar are reported to have been admitted in the Accident and Emergency unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH following a stampede at the GSS examinations center.

The varsity is currently administering semester examinations, and those writing GSS Courses have had a hard time finding halls to sit for the exam due to the huge turnout of registered students.

The situation worsened on Saturday morning when stampede ensued at the exam venue and some of the students that had gathered for the examinations collapsed and were whisked away to UCTH in ambulances.

“We have received about 15 students whom we are struggling to stabilize, and some resuscitate,” a source, (name withheld in line with editorial policy to prevent victimization) in the tertiary medical facility told newsmen.

A parent of one of the affected student told newsmen that his daughter, Adah Beshina (not her actual name) was billed to write her exams on Friday but couldn’t. He said she sustained injuries when she was trying to escape the scene of the .incidence.

“The facilities were not enough and some were asked to stay outside despite the heavy downpour experienced yesterday. Because of that, she did not know where the hole was and she fell. Luckily, she was helped by other students, but she hurt her leg and sustained other injuries,” the parent said.

He has confirmed to newsmen that his daughter had called to brief him of the ongoing stampede and he advised her to stay away from the crowd.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr Reporter)