More than 100 people have been injured in a serious accident involving a passenger train and a truck at a railway crossing in southern Russia. The incident, which occurred on Monday, resulted in the train derailing and multiple carriages overturning.
Russian Railways reported that the train, which was en route from Kazan to Adler with approximately 800 passengers onboard, collided with a truck at an “unguarded crossing.” According to the statement, 140 passengers suffered abrasions and bruises, while 30 individuals, including 12 children, have been hospitalized. The severity of the injuries and the number of hospitalizations highlight the gravity of the accident.
Social media footage from the scene showed wreckage from the truck scattered on a grassy embankment next to the railway track. Several train carriages were seen lying on their side, emphasizing the scale of the derailment. The emergency situations ministry confirmed that nine carriages had derailed, with seven of them overturning.
Governor Andrei Bocharov of the southern Volgograd region visited the site and instructed that the railway be cleared as quickly as possible. “Emergency rescue work is being carried out at the site of the train derailment,” Bocharov said.
In response to the accident, the Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal probe to determine the cause. Russian Railways has pointed the finger at the truck driver, accusing him of “grossly violating traffic rules” by entering the crossing despite functioning warning signals. The train driver reportedly applied the emergency brakes, but the collision could not be avoided due to the short distance and the train’s speed of 65 kilometers per hour (40 mph).
The incident has prompted widespread concern and scrutiny over railway safety measures, particularly regarding the management of unguarded crossings. The ongoing investigation aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the collision and prevent future accidents.
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