Six-year-old survives Spain train disaster that killed her family as death toll climbs
Madrid: Spain is in mourning after a devastating train accident in the country’s south left at least 42 people dead, including an entire family, with one six-year-old girl emerging as the sole survivor from among her closest relatives.
The crash occurred when two trains collided after one of them derailed for reasons that are still under investigation, as reported by Associated Press News. The impact tore through the front carriages, which suffered the heaviest damage, leaving mangled metal, scattered debris and dozens of casualties along a steep slope beside the tracks.
Amid the wreckage, Civil Guard personnel discovered the young girl barefoot on the railway line after she managed to escape through a shattered window, according to reports by Spanish daily La Vanguardia. Despite the severity of the accident, she sustained only minor injuries and received three stitches to her head at a hospital. Doctors later confirmed that she was in stable condition.
The child lost her parents, her brother and a cousin in the crash, authorities said, leaving her orphaned. The victims belonged to the Zamorano Álvarez family from Punta Umbria, a town that has since declared three days of mourning. Local officials said the family had been seated in the front section of the train, which absorbed the force of the collision.
On Tuesday, Punta Umbria observed a minute of silence in memory of those who died. According to an AP report, Mayor José Carlos Hernández said the survival of the girl offered a small measure of comfort amid widespread grief. “Many people are deeply saddened by this terrible accident, but there is also solace in knowing that some survived, like the miracle of this girl who is safe,” he said.
The mayor added that the child is now staying with her grandparents at a hotel in Córdoba, the nearest major city to the crash site. “She has a strong family around her, who will do everything possible to ensure she has a good life,” he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
No exit polls from 7 am of April 9 till 6.30 pm of April 29: EC
New Delhi (PTI): Exit polls can neither be held nor disseminated from 7 am of April 9 till 6.30 pm of April 29 for the five assembly elections taking place this month, the Election Commission has said.
It has also cautioned that conducting or broadcasting exit polls in the period is violative of section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and is "punishable with imprisonment up to a period of two years, or with fine or both".
While Kerala, Assam and Puducherry going for assembly polls on April 9, the electoral exercise will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 23.
In West Bengal, state polls will be held on April 23 and 29.
While the 48 hour 'silence period' in Kerala and Puducherry will commence at 6 pm on Tuesday, it will kick in at 5 pm in Assam.
Silence period means end of campaigning 48 hours ahead of the end of voting hour in a particular constituency or the entire state.
Except door-to-door campaigning by a limited number of party workers or candidate, no other form of campaigning is allowed. But in a digital age, it is difficult to enforce.
Usually voting is held from 7 am to 6 pm. But the timing varies due to terrain and security situation.
