Death And Amputation: NRZ Raises Desperate Alarm After 3 People Hit By Trains In One Day

NRZ Raises Alarm As 3 People Hit By Trains In One Day

The National Railways of Zimbabwe has sounded a desperate warning after a horrifying 24-hour period saw three separate individuals struck by trains across the country, leaving one man dead and two others fighting for their lives in hospital. In a shocking series of incidents that unfolded yesterday, the state-owned rail operator confirmed that a man sleeping across the tracks in Matabeleland South was killed instantly, while another man suffered a severe cut to his back in Mashonaland Central, and a third man tragically lost both legs in Harare.

“He Did Not Respond To The Sound Of The Horn”

The most tragic of the three incidents occurred in Matabeleland South, where an unidentified man lost his life in a gruesome accident. According to the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the man was found sleeping directly across the railway tracks on the Stanmore-Gwanda block when a train approached.

In a statement, the NRZ detailed the harrowing moments leading up to the death.

The NRZ is alarmed by the frequency of accidents on the railway lines. In particular, three people were hit by trains in separate incidents yesterday alone, resulting in one death and two serious injuries. In the first incident… an identified man died on the spot after being hit by a train in Matabeleland South. He was sleeping across the railway tracks on the Stanmore- Gwanda block when the train approached and did not respond to the sound of the horn.

The rail operator confirmed that the man’s body was transported to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary. The NRZ extended its condolences, stating:

Our thoughts are with the man’s loved ones at this difficult time.

Two More Men Maimed In Separate Ordeals

While the fatality in Matabeleland South dominated the headlines, the NRZ also reported two other severe incidents that occurred on the same day, highlighting the escalating danger posed by the country’s railway infrastructure.

In Mashonaland Central, a man sustained a deep cut on his back after being struck by a train between Passaford and Tatagura. Emergency services rushed the injured man to Concession Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment for his injuries.

The third incident, which took place in the capital, Harare, resulted in life-altering injuries. A man lost both his legs after being run over by a shunt train. He was taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, where medical staff are working to stabilise his condition.

The NRZ expressed its support for the survivors, stating:

The NRZ wishes the injured men speedy recovery.

Urgent Appeal To The Public

In the wake of these three devastating incidents occurring within a single day, the National Railways of Zimbabwe has issued a stark appeal to the public regarding safety around railway lines. The organisation is urging citizens to exercise extreme caution and avoid using the tracks as pathways or resting areas.

The NRZ’s plea comes as a direct response to what it describes as an alarming frequency of accidents. The authority stressed the importance of vigilance, warning that the heavy trains require significant distances to stop and often cannot avoid collisions when individuals are on the tracks.