The number of people injured in a train collision near Murmansk has risen to 31

The number of injured after the collision of freight and passenger trains in the Murmansk region has risen to 31 people. This was reported in the Russian Railways on December 19.

"According to the updated information, as a result of the accident with the train number 11 Murmansk - St. Petersburg on December 18 suffered 31 people, including five children," - stated in the message in the Telegram-channel of Russian Railways.

The message also specifies that the company is ready to provide assistance to the victims, they will be able to undergo free treatment and rehabilitation. Russian Railways will pay 2.2 million rubles to the families of the victims.

Restoration work is continuing at the scene of the accident. As journalist Nikita Loskutnikov told Izvestia, specialists are removing the rubble.

"They have not yet had time to tow the cars, and at Knyazhaya station there is still no voltage in the contact network. Passengers were sent further in the surviving eight cars, and here the restoration work is in full swing," he said.

Thecollision of two trains occurred earlier in the day at the arrival of a passengertrain at the station Knyazhaya in the Murmansk region. A passenger train traveling on the Murmansk - St. Petersburg route collided with a freight train. As a result of the collision, three cars of the passenger train and several freight cars derailed.

At the time of the accident in the passenger train were 326 people, including pupils of children's sports school boxing from Severomorsk. It was noted that the children and the coach were not injured.

The Governor of the region Andrei Chibis also reported that the number of dead as a result of the accident rose to two people.

On the fact of the accident was initiated a criminal case under Art. 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Violation of the rules of safety of movement and operation of railway transport"). Then the head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, demanded a report on the progress of the investigation.