Dare Babalola
A train accident occurred on Monday, involving a passenger train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja, resulting in the derailment of the train along the rail corridor.
The incident led to the injury of several passengers and a subsequent halt in the journey.
Eyewitnesses on the Abuja-bound train reported that the derailment occurred in the early hours of Monday, describing a sudden jolt that caused panic among passengers inside the coaches.
Travellers said the impact threw some passengers from their seats as the train came to an abrupt stop.
Some passengers were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the confusion that followed the incident.
In a statement, the Nigerian Railway Corporation said the incident occurred at about 10.30 a.m. near Asham and involved a rear locomotive and a passenger coach.
According to the corporation, preliminary findings indicated that the rear locomotive made contact with the coach immediately next to it due to a coupling issue.
The statement said some passengers sustained injuries and were promptly attended to before being taken to a nearby medical facility for proper medical care.
It added that no fatalities were recorded.
The corporation said emergency response protocols were immediately activated, while technical teams were deployed to the location to address the situation.
It also said the Safety Investigation Bureau had arrived at the scene to conduct a thorough investigation in line with established safety procedures.
The Abuja Kaduna standard gauge rail line remains one of the most patronised passenger routes in the country, providing a key transport link between Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
The corridor has continued to attract large numbers of travellers, particularly commuters seeking a safer alternative to the Abuja Kaduna highway.
