Bengal: 3, including 2 students, killed in train-van accident at open level-crossing
With the level-crossing gate reportedly left open, a school van carrying children crossed the railway tracks near Karna Subarna station in West Bengal's Murshidabad district
With the level-crossing gate reportedly left open, a school van carrying children crossed the railway tracks near Karna Subarna station in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, only to be struck by a local train moments later on Friday morning. The collision killed three people, including two schoolchildren, according to PTI and local media. The accident occurred at around 7 am at the level crossing near Karna Subarna railway station, about 214 km from Kolkata. The van was ferrying children to school when it attempted to cross the tracks and was hit by the train.
Railway officials said the level-crossing gate was reported to have been open at the time of the accident. Read Full Story The accident took place at the Gobindapur rail gate when a vehicle carrying schoolchildren attempted to cross the tracks and was hit by a train. A cyclist was also struck in the collision, while several children sustained serious injuries and were admitted to Berhampore Hospital. Videos from the accident site showed a trail of destruction, with the school van's windows shattered, its body crushed like a can, the windshield smashed, and the roof almost ripped off.
A 10-member team has rushed to the place to investigate the cause of the accident, he told PTI. Locals rushed the injured students to nearby hospital, with several reported to be in critical condition. Train services in the Azimganj-Katwa section of Eastern Railway's Howrah division were affected following the accident, the official said. The crash near Karna Subarna station disrupted train services on the section, while the Railway Police and local police launched an investigation into the incident.. After the Berhampore school van-train accident claimed three lives, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar termed the deaths of the children "heartbreaking" and sought a thorough inquiry into the incident.
"Any loss of life is tragic, but the death of children is even more heartbreaking. A thorough inquiry is necessary, and I believe the Railways will conduct a separate investigation." This is a developing story. It will be updated. Ends Inputs from Tapas Sengupta
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