DUSHANBE, October 10, 2013, Asia-Plus – Some 200 conscripts were on board the Dushanbe-Khujand train when it has derailed in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh province.

An official source at the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Tajikistan says the Dushanbe-Khujand train derailed in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh province on October 10 at 10:28 am.

“Some 200 conscripts and several officers were on board the train when five passenger cars derailed,” said the source.  “The accident took place in the Gallaaral district of the Jizzakh province.”

According to him, at least 33 persons were injured in the incident.  All injured persons were reportedly taken to the central district hospital of Gallaaral.

Meanwhile, Tajik state railway company, Tajik Railways, says only 12 persons, including conductor, were injured in the October 10 incident.  “They sustained minor injuries,” the Tajik Railways source noted.

He also noted that the train was in satisfactory condition and had no technical problems.   “Operating conditions of the train could scarcely cause the incident,” the source said.

He further added that it could not be ruled out that the incident had been caused by the technical state of Uzbekistan’s railway infrastructure.