Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
At least one person died and several others were injured after two southbound trains collided north of London on Friday afternoon. Emergency services rushed to the site, where police said a major incident had been declared.
The collision happened outside Bedford at around 5.15 pm local time as both trains were travelling towards London St Pancras station, according to rail tracking websites. Emergency teams sent multiple resources to the scene, including an air ambulance and a hazardous incident team from the East of England Ambulance Service.
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Police said in a statement, “We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died. A major incident has been declared, and officers are continuing to respond at the scene alongside colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the local Fire and Rescue and Ambulance Services.”
Peter Knapp, who was travelling on the rear train, said the collision came without warning. “There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming. People were so scared and confused,” Knapp said. “I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs,” he added. “And then I managed to get out of the train and because I’m quite thin I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors.”
Photos and videos posted on social media showed dozens of people, some with bandages and many appearing unhurt, standing and sitting among emergency vehicles parked on a road running parallel to the tracks. The RMT union, which represents many railway workers, said it was monitoring the situation and expressed concern over reports of “serious injuries” to both train staff and passengers.
East Midlands Railway said the 4.40 pm train from Corby to St Pancras was involved in the collision with the 3.50 pm train from Nottingham to the same station. The company said it had cancelled all trains to and from St Pancras for the rest of Friday and could not confirm the schedule for Saturday. The collision left at least one person dead, injured several others and caused major disruption to rail services.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
