Kolkata, July 17 (). A train hit a school van in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Friday morning. Four people died in this terrible accident, including three school children. Three other students and the school van driver were seriously injured and were admitted to the hospital.
Initial investigation revealed that the railway gateman’s mistake in handling the rail gate was the cause of the accident. Despite knowing that Nimtita-Katwa local train was coming at high speed, he kept the rail gate open.
Local people and eyewitnesses said that the accident happened at around 7 in the morning. At that time Nimta-Katwa local train was coming. Eyewitnesses claim that just before that, the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Express had passed and the Govindpur rail gate was not closed.
He said, “Seeing the gate open, the school van carrying several school students started crossing the railway line. At that moment the Nimtita-Katwa local train came at high speed and directly hit the school van.”
An eyewitness told the media, “The driver of the school van was not at fault. He was crossing the railway line and had no idea that the train was coming at high speed.
The school van was completely shattered by the train collision. Local people started rescue operations and the police were informed about the incident. After reaching the spot, the police took possession of the dead bodies and sent all the injured to the hospital.
A police officer said, “Four people, including three school children, died on the spot. The condition of three other children and the driver of the school van is critical. They have been taken to the nearby Baharampur Medical College and Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. The possibility of the death toll increasing cannot be ruled out.”
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DCH/