Passenger Train Derails As Excessive Temperatures Break Rail In Hwange

A passenger train belonging to the National Railways of Zimbabwe derailed between Hwange and Victoria Falls On Sunday Night. The mishap is said to have been a result of excessive temperatures which caused the rail to break. On Sunday night maximum temperatures for Hwange reached 39 degrees celsius, according to data from the Met Department. As a result, hundreds of passengers were left stranded and spent the night at Hwange train station. NRZ spokesperson Nyasha Maravanyika confirmed the accident. He said

There was derailment between T-Junction and Victoria Falls due to a broken rail where rail expands and contracts because of heat. This sometimes results in bent or broken rail and is the main cause of the derailment. The passenger train from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo didn’t continue on Sunday and up to now, even the BBR cargo will be affected until this is sorted.

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