Chapter 144 Self-rescue
However, at this time, the cold wind outside was howling like a beast, hitting the windows of the carriage madly, making a terrifying "clang clang" sound, as if it could shatter this fragile barrier at any time.
The words of comfort that Jiang Haitang had just said seemed so powerless and pale in the face of this cruel reality.
In the carriage, all the passengers looked listless, their eyes filled with helplessness and fear.
Several women hugged each other and sobbed softly. Their cries echoed in the silent carriage, adding a bit of sadness.
At this moment, an angry voice suddenly rang out: "Where are the train police? Where are the flight attendants? Why is no one taking care of us?"
This question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly arousing dissatisfaction and panic in everyone's hearts.
Jiang Haitang's heart skipped a beat. She knew that once panic spread, the consequences would be disastrous.
She immediately straightened up and shouted, "Everyone calm down. The damage in our carriage is relatively minor. The damage in other carriages is more severe. They should still be rescuing people ahead."
However, her words did not have the desired effect.
The man who was shouting became more and more agitated, almost breaking down, and shouted: "What should we do? Are we just going to suffer hunger and cold here? Are we just going to wait for death here?"
When the words "waiting to die" came out of this person's mouth, the atmosphere in the car became even weirder.
Jiang Haitang took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.
She knew that she had to make everyone aware of the current serious situation in order to stabilize the situation.
"Comrades, although we are very cold now, at least we are safe. However, our safety is only temporary. For the next one to two hours, our danger will still exist."
Her voice was firm and powerful, echoing in the carriage.
After hearing her words, the carriage suddenly became quiet, with only heavy breathing and occasional sobs.
Soon, someone broke the oppressive silence: "Will the car continue to roll over? Otherwise, should we get out first?"
"It's extremely cold outside. Won't we freeze to death if we go down?" someone questioned.
But there are more rational people.
"If we get off the bus, there might be a way to survive."
Jiang Haitang raised his hand, signaling for silence, and then said, "Comrades, there's a train behind us, and there's also a train in front of us. If we don't request assistance in time and stop the trains in front and behind, there's a high probability of a train collision if they meet."
"If a train collision occurs, how much damage will it cause to our train and the other train? I believe that the train police and crew members are not leaving us alone. Instead, they are doing more important things. Rather than rescue, their priority now is to contact the platform and take emergency measures to minimize subsequent casualties."
"Comrades, in the face of disaster, let's first overcome the difficulties and work together to get out of this predicament, okay?"
Her words made many people fall into deep thought, and everyone seemed to be aware of the potential danger.
At this moment, Jin Youqing stood up and shouted loudly: "Comrades, we must save ourselves. Let's go to the front and discuss with the conductor immediately. If the train cannot contact the platform, we must set off immediately and stop the trains on both sides."
Jiang Haitang said without hesitation: "Let's go to the front and take a look at the situation."
She walked to Zhao Xiaomei and looked at Xiao Taozi, who was sitting quietly in her arms, blinking her big eyes at her, and her heart was filled with guilt.
"Xiao Taozi, Mommy has something important to do. Can you sit in Aunt Zhao's arms for a while?"
Little Taozi raised her little face. Although her eyes were filled with reluctance, she nodded firmly. Her voice was childish but firm: "Mom, I'm grown up!"
Jiang Haitang's eyes instantly became moist when she saw her daughter being so sensible, but she knew that now was not the time to be sentimental.
She held back her tears, turned around and walked towards the front of the car, and Jin Youqing followed closely behind her.
The two men walked forward, one step deep and one step shallow, and each step was very difficult.
Every carriage was in a mess, with luggage scattered all over the floor and tables and chairs toppled over.
The further we went, the more serious the damage to the vehicles became, and the air was filled with a pungent smell.
Fortunately, the passengers in each carriage were trying hard to save themselves, and the scene of mutual help made them feel a little comforted.
Finally, they arrived at the front of the car, but the scene before them made their hearts sink.
The door frame of the front carriage, where it connects to the locomotive, was severely deformed and twisted beyond recognition.
Lu Liangchen and several fellow flight attendants were taking turns hitting the metal door frame with their shoulders. Each hit was accompanied by a dull sound and the creaking of the metal door frame under the heavy weight, but the door stubbornly stood firm.
"Haitang, why are you here?" When Lu Liangchen saw Jiang Haitang, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Jiang Haitang didn't bother to exchange pleasantries and asked anxiously, "What's going on?"
"When the accident happened, this door was locked. Now people inside can't get out, and people outside can't get in." Lu Liangchen's voice was full of anxiety and helplessness.
Jiang Haitang's heart suddenly tightened. The situation was worse than she had imagined.
"We must contact the people in front as soon as possible. Only by getting to the front of the train can we contact the platform and ask for help. I don't know how long it will take for the vehicle behind us to pass here, and whether the vehicle coming from the front is on the same track as our train..." Her words revealed deep worry.
After hearing what Jiang Haitang said, Lu Liangchen's expression became more serious.
"Where is the conductor?" Jiang Haitang asked after glancing around.
"When the accident happened, he suffered a head injury and is still unconscious. We are receiving emergency treatment," a female flight attendant replied.
Lu Liangchen said: "The current situation is unclear, we have to save ourselves."
After saying this, he turned to look at the train attendant who was taking care of the seriously injured and asked, "Comrade attendant, do you know if there are any trains behind or ahead of us on the same track as us at this point in our journey?"
Several flight attendants were already panicked because of the sudden accident. They were busy mechanically, with confusion and fear in their eyes.
After a long while, a train attendant finally recovered and said in a trembling voice, "Forty minutes after our train passes this section, a train will pass here from the front and change route at the fork in the road. An hour later, a train will pass this section from behind us."
Lu Liangchen quickly looked at his watch and his face turned pale instantly. Twelve minutes had passed since the vehicle accident. In other words, in twenty-eight minutes, the oncoming train would meet their train.
Time is running out and every second matters to everyone's life.
"Comrades, please find a way to open the doors of the carriage immediately and organize all passengers to get off in an orderly manner. At the same time, find a way to organize personnel to go to both ends and stop the vehicles coming from both directions in time. Especially the vehicles in front, to avoid serious accidents of two vehicles colliding!" Lu Liangchen gave the order decisively.
The flight attendant, having regained consciousness, nodded quickly: "Okay, comrade."
"Comrades, the situation is urgent. We need to act separately. Xiao Wang, you and Xiao Li mobilize the people in the carriage to get off the train as soon as possible. Xiao Zhao, Xiao Qi, you hurry up and open the train doors as much as possible, and then assist in evacuating the passengers. I will gather people and find a way to intercept the train in front." Fortunately, the attendant did not fail at the critical moment, but made arrangements in an orderly manner.
"Comrades, please bring all your flashlights. It's dark now. It would be more effective to use the flashlights to signal the vehicles ahead." Jiang Haitang reminded.
Several flight attendants nodded, quickly took action, and began to carry out their tasks nervously.
Jiang Haitang looked at the people still trying to break the door open and said to Lu Liangchen, "You and the other train police officers continue to try to break the door open. Jin Zhiqing and I will help the train attendants with their own rescue efforts."
She knew that there was no movement on the front of the car and the situation inside was probably not optimistic, so self-rescue work was urgent.
"We are in danger now. Comrades who are physically fit, please get off the train and quickly move towards the front of the train to stop the vehicles ahead to avoid a bigger accident. Comrades who have flashlights, please share them. Thank you."
"Other comrades, please put on your warm clothes and get off the bus as soon as possible."
Jiang Haitang and Jin Youqing shouted at the top of their lungs, over and over again.
Jiang Haitang's voice had long been hoarse, and every word she spoke felt like swallowing a razor blade, but she didn't care and continued shouting with all her might.
Thanks to their efforts, more and more passengers understood the current danger, began to help each other, and prepared to get off the bus in an orderly manner.
However, there are always some people who act unreasonably at such times. They complain loudly, scold the driver, scold the flight attendants, and vent all their dissatisfaction.
Fortunately, most passengers were rational and quickly stopped the discordant noises.
When Jiang Haitang finally returned to her carriage, the passengers there had already started to move.
Zhao Xiaomei was looking around anxiously. Seeing her come back, she hurried to greet her: "You should get off the car quickly too. Don't delay. You have a child with you."
Jiang Haitang glanced at her gratefully and said, "Thank you, Sister Xiaomei. Give me the child. Hurry up and grab some food and take Aunt Tao off the bus."
She held Xiao Taozi tightly in one hand and picked up the bag of food with the other.
In this wilderness, food is the only hope for survival.
Jin Youqing just happened to take her bag and saw Jiang Haitang carrying both the child and the package. She helped Jiang Haitang pick up the bag and said, "Let me help you."
"Where are the other educated youth?"
"They should have gotten off." Jin Youqing didn't see them when she came back, so they should have left the train.
With Jin Youqing helping to carry the bag, Jiang Haitang thought of the cold night and grabbed two quilts and hugged them in her arms.
Little Taozi seemed to understand her mother's hard work, and sensibly stretched out her little hand to help pull the quilt.
Jin Youqing followed suit and immediately rolled up their bedding and held it in her arms.
I have to say that Jin Youqing is really strong. She can carry so many things and walk very fast.
Jiang Haitang, holding Xiao Taozi, followed Jin Youqing's footsteps and walked off the train with difficulty.
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