By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—The devastating torrential rain that swept across Imo State in the past four days has not only destroyed several properties, but also claimed its first casualty in Owerri.

Our correspondent gathered that a commercial tricycle operator, whose identity could not be ascertained at press time, was swept away by the flood as he tried to salvage his tricycle that ran into a gutter along Okigwe Road, Owerri.
Stories had it that the tricyclist was heading to Owerri municipality from Orji, Owerri North Local Government Area when he mistook the heavily flooded drainage for the road.
“The commercial tricyclist and his passengers were emptied into the gutter but were quickly rescued by sympathizers.

“The tricycle owner, who was not badly injured in the mishap, thereafter tried to pull out his tricycle from the drain but was swept off his feet by the fast moving flood,” an eyewitness told Vanguard.
The eyewitness said that attempts to rescue the drowning tricyclist failed as the rescue team almost got drowned.

The eyewitness said: “The fast moving flood later dumped the lifeless body of the tricyclist near the roundabout at Imo State University, IMSU, Junction.”
Some IMSU students, who spoke to our correspondent at the scene, expressed worry at the slow pace of work at the roundabout.
“This roundabout is misplaced. We have recorded several road  crashes, with its attendant loss of precious lives here.  Only God knows when this project will be finished,” a student that simply identified herself as Nneka, said.