13 children killed after school van collides with train at railway crossing in UP’s Kushinagar
At least 13 school children were killed and several others injured when a train hit a van carrying 20 children at an unmanned level crossing near Dudhi railway station in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district around 7 am on Thursday.
All injured have been admitted to Kushinagar district hospital for treatment. Four of the children are critically injured children and battling for their lives.
The driver of the van, who allegedly ignored the warning of gate mitra and the whistle blown by the train, also died on the way to the hospital.
The train was travelling to Gorakhpur from Bihar’s Siwan. Locals and district administration officials rushed to rescue on knowing about the accident.
Expressing grief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was ‘extremely saddened’ and added that the UP government and railway department would take appropriate action.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the deceased’s family and ordered an inquiry by the Gorakhpur commissioner Anil Kumar and submit a probe report at the earliest.
“Deeply pained over deaths of school children in unfortunate train accident in Kushinagar. Praying to god for peace to departed souls and strength to parents. Instructions have been issued to provide complete treatment to those affected in accident and for all possible help,” tweeted Adityanath, who was reported to have rushed to the accident spot from Lucknow.