Three people, including two students, died in an accident on Friday morning in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district where a passenger train reportedly rammed into a school van.
Local media reports said the incident took place at the Karnasubarna rail gate in Berhampore at around 7:00 am, when the train rammed into a school van and a cyclist who was crossing the railway tracks.
According to the Berhampore police, a train was supposed to cross the railway line, but the railway gate was left open. The van, which was carrying at least eight school students, passed through the gate when the Nimtita-Katwa Express, travelling at high speed, hit the van. Visuals show the mangled remains of the van.
The death toll may rise. Berhampore police said the students were immediately taken to the Karnasubarna Block Hospital, but two succumbed to injuries. Several other students whose conditions were critical were taken to Murshidabad Medical College Hospital in Berhampore for treatment.
Eyewitnesses claim that the gate remained shut for another up-line train that passed on the adjacent track. After that, the gate was opened. They blamed it on the negligence of the railway gateman.
A formal investigation has been launched.
