Several injured as avalanche derails train in Switzerland
Zurich, February 16
Several people feared to have sustained injuries after a train derailed near the village of Goppenstein in southern Switzerland after an avalanche crashed in the Swiss Alps on Monday, as per local media
Police fear that several people were injured in the accident, according to swissinfo.ch
The derailment occurred at around 7am on Monday morning in the canton of Valais, southwest Switzerland, police said on the social media platform X, according to the Swiss outlet. Approximately 30 passengers were on board at the time of the derailment.
According to Swiss Federal Railways, an avalanche caused the accident.
The RE1 line, which runs between Bern and Brig, is most affected, according to the outlet.
Route operator BLS told the Keystone-SDA news agency that the incident occurred in the Stockgraben Tunnel between Goppenstein and Hohtenn, beyond the Lotschberg Tunnel.
The affected train was a RegioExpress that departed Spiez at 6:12 am. According to the BLS, there were approximately 30 passengers on board at the time of the derailment.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Very sad to hear. Makes you think about our own mountain railways in India, like the ones in Himachal or the Nilgiris. We also face landslides. Safety protocols must be top priority everywhere. Wishing strength to the rescue teams.
This is why infrastructure in mountainous regions needs constant monitoring and investment. Climate change is making these extreme weather events more frequent. A lesson for all hilly states.
Heartbreaking. Just imagine starting your Monday morning commute and this happens. So grateful there were only 30 passengers and not a fully packed train. Hope the injuries are minor.
Swiss trains are supposed to be the gold standard for safety. If this can happen there, it's a humbling moment. No system is completely immune to nature's fury. Speedy recovery to all affected.
While the focus is rightly on rescue, I hope there's also a thorough investigation. Were there avalanche warning systems? Could the train have been stopped? Asking these questions respectfully is how we improve safety globally.
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