Sabotage study in train crash
'NZP-A.-Reuter—Copyright)
JOHANNESBURG, March 31. At least 32 persons were killed and 135 injured when a train was derailed in Northern Transvaal early today, Railways headquarters announced in Johannesburg. The announcement said that there were indications of possible sabotage at the scene.
The locomotive and eight coaches of a passenger train were derailed at a bridge between Potgietersrus and Opblaas, about 200 miles north of Johannesburg. The headquarters statement said that the bodies of 32 non-white passengers had already been found in the wreckage. Of the 135 non-whites
injured, 95 had been admitted to Potgietersrus Hospital and 40 were in hospital at Pietersburg, about 20 miles beyond Opblaas. Senior railway police officers and railway technical staff were at the scene of the accident early today and signs of possible sabotage were found. Police were investigating, the Railways statement said. The train was on its way to Messina, a South African town on the border with Rhodesia.
The line between the scene of the accident and Pietersburg is blocked. Clearing operations are in progress but it is expected the line will not be open before Sunday morning.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 1
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190Sabotage study in train crash Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 1
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