MOSCOW, October 11 (RIA Novosti) – Tajikistan has blamed neighboring Uzbekistan for the derailing of its train, which was carrying military conscripts to the north of the impoverished Central Asian nation, Tajik media reported Friday.
Tajikistan's national railways said Uzbekistan failed to provide information that it was carrying out repair works on a section of the railroad passing through its territory, independent news website Asia-Plus reported.
A train carrying around 200 Tajik conscripts from the capital, Dushanbe, to the northern city of Konibodom overturned Thursday after coming off the tracks.
Central Asian media put the number of injured at between 12 and 65. No fatalities were reported.
Though the train was not in regular service, Uzbek authorities were notified of its passing in advance, Asia-Plus said, citing an unnamed official at the state railroads company.
Uzbek authorities have not commented on the allegations.
The railroad from Tajikistan’s capital to the Central Asian nation’s northern reaches passes through Uzbekistan. The route was built while Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were both part of the Soviet Union.
The two countries, which are at odds over water resources, have clashed over railroad transportation previously, most notably in 2009, when Uzbekistan imposed a blockade on Tajik trains.
