Doctors Voice Hope for Chinese Train Wreck Toddler

Posted July 26th, 2011 at 2:05 am (UTC-5)
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Chinese doctors believe they can save the leg of a 2-year-old child who was pulled from the wreckage of a high-speed train almost 24 hours after the crash.

The official Xinhua news agency quoted doctors Tuesday saying they no longer expect to amputate the left leg of Xiang Weiyi. Doctors said previously that the girl was likely to lose the leg.

Chinese media have hailed the child's rescue as one of the few bright spots in an accident that has sparked widespread anger across the country. A total of 39 people were killed and 192 injured when one train rammed another Saturday in eastern Zhejiang province.

Online forums have been filled with complaints that the government has not adequately explained the accident. Many also question the nation's rapid construction of high-speed rail lines in a multi-billion-dollar program that has been tainted by charges of bribery and corruption.

Officials say Saturday's accident occurred after a lighting strike stalled a train that was running between the cities of Hangzhou and Wenzhou. A second train crashed into the back of it, causing several carriages to fall off a bridge.

Chinese officials Sunday apologized to the victims and said an investigative panel will determine the cause of the crash. Three top officials of the Shanghai Railway Bureau have been dismissed in connection with the accident.

Service on the rail line resumed Monday.