The first of the two train accidents was an express train caring over 1000 people derailed in West Bengal, west of Bangladesh in Asia. At least have died and 45 are injured
The other train accident was in Miami, FL where an SUV that had stopped on the train tracks in Miami, FL. No fatalities have been reported
The following written content from Ratnadip Choudhury and Akhil Kumar
Bengal
Distressing visuals have surfaced of multiple passengers trapped in the debris after a train accident in North Bengal. 12 coaches of the Guwahati-Bikaner Express train derailed near the Maynaguri town of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal on Thursday. At least seven people have been killed and 45 injured, news agency PTI said. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will reach the accident site tomorrow morning.
At least 50 injured were rescued, as per West Bengal government sources. 10 have been critically injured, sources added. 24 of the injured were sent to Jalpaiguri district hospital and 16 were sent to Moynaguri government hospital. The critical passengers will be shifted to the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri, New Frontier Railway sources said.
Many passengers are feared trapped inside the derailed coaches and gas cutters are being used to cut open the mangled coaches, according to Railway sources.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said he is “personally monitoring” the situation and that he has spoken to PM Narendra Modi and apprised him of the rescue operations. “We will fulfill all of our duties,” he has said.
“In an unfortunate accident, 12 Coaches of Bikaner – Guwahati Exp. derailed near New Maynaguri (West Bengal) this evening. Personally monitoring the situation for swift rescue operations,” he said in a tweet.
“I am reaching the site tomorrow morning. Medical teams, senior officers at the spot. PM Modi also took stock of the situation and rescue operation. Our focus is on rescue. Ex-gratia also announced,” the minister told news agency ANI.
A High-level Commissioner Railway Safety inquiry has been ordered in the accident. Chairperson of the Railway Board and DG (Safety), Railway Board are leaving from Delhi to the site of the accident.
Compensation has been announced as ₹ 5 lakh for death, ₹ 1 lakh for grievous injury, and ₹ 25,000 for “simple injuries”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in the middle of a meeting with chief ministers to review the COVID-19 situation, inquired with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee about the accident. Read more about the train accidents from NDTV
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Miami, FL, The second of two train accidents
The following written content from Amanda Batchelor and Christina Vazquez
A Brightline train struck a Ford Explorer SUV Thursday morning that had stopped on the train tracks in Miami, authorities said.
The incident occurred just before 8:30 a.m. in the area of North Miami Avenue and 20th Street.
According to Miami police, one person inside the vehicle was able to get out of the car before the train struck it.
Miami Fire Rescue officials confirmed that two adults inside the vehicle — an elderly man and his daughter — were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the woman and her mother were already out of the vehicle when fire rescue crews arrived.
The elderly man, who authorities said was in the front passenger seat, was removed from the SUV through the liftgate because the safety guard rail had impaled the front windshield of the SUV.
A representative for Brightline said there were no injuries reported aboard the train.
“Whoever was at fault today, always treat a train track like there’s a train coming,” Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez said. “Please don’t try to beat the guardrails, please don’t go over tracks if you see a train coming, thinking you can beat it, because it could be a tragedy. This accident today, they were very lucky.”
Miami Police Officer Kiara Delva said detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“We ask that anyone who perhaps saw something come forward and provide us with this information,” she said.
The crash comes exactly two weeks after a man and his sister were killed by a Brightline train after authorities said the man drove around the lowered gates.
In that case, authorities said Marc Charleus, 68, was driving his sister, Veronique Chaleus, 58, to work when he went around the gates as the train was approaching. Read more about the train accidents from Local10
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