By JOHN SAKALA
A fourth year student has died of suffocation after the hostel she was in caught fire following the riotous behaviour of the students at the University of Zambia.
She died after part of October Hostel where she was caught fire.
Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo has confirmed the death of the student and admission of another at Levy Mwanawasa hospital due to suffocation.
Ms Katongo said Unza students had last night staged a riot around 22:00 hours where they blocked the Great East Road and destroyed booths within the area.
She said police officers were dispatched to the area but couldn’t combat the situation due to the volatility.
“Immediately we sought reinforcement from Paramilitary Battalion and by 01:00 the order was restored. But as officers were keeping vigil around the campus, information was received that part of October Hostel was on fire and that a fourth year female student in the School of Education and another who is a second year student aged 20 years had suffocated.
“They were rushed to the clinic at the Campus and later to Levy Mwanawasa Hospital and unfortunately the fourth year student died while the other student is still admitted. The cause of the fire is yet to be established. Police officers have continued patrolling the campus and keeping vigil. The situation is currently normal,” she said.
