8 kids die as school van rams into train
LUCKNOW/VARANASI: Eight children were killed and eight others grievously injured after their school van rammed into a speeding train at an unmanned railway crossing in Bhadohi on Monday morning. The van driver was also injured in the mishap.
NER divisional railway manager (DRM), Varanasi has ordered a probe into the incident that created tension in the area.
The injured are undergoing treatment the BHU trauma centre, BHU. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and railway minister Suresh Prabhu expressed grief over the incident. The CM announced a relief of `2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. The railway minister also announced ex gratia of `2 lakh for the kin of the deceased, `1 lakh for the seriously injured and ` 20,000 for those who sustained minor injuries.
The tragedy took place when the Maduadeeh-Allahabad passenger hit the van at the unmanned crossing between Katka and Madho Singh railway stations in Bhadohi at around 7.20 am.
The van was on its way to Tender Hearts School, Ghosia in Aurai area of Bhadohi after picking up children from various villages in the vicinity of the district, railway authorities said.
Sanjay Yadav, chief public relations officer, NER, said it was purely the van driver’s fault. “We were informed that our ‘gate-mitra’ tried to stop the van driver but he didn’t pay any heed and moved on, resulting in the accident.”
‘Gate-mitra’ Mukesh Kumar said the van driver ignored his alert and that he was also using an earphone.
NER DRM SK Kashyap reached the spot and monitored the rescue operation. “The injured have been referred to BHU hospital,” police said, adding that the district magistrate Prakash Bindu and additional superintendent of police Jiya Lal were also on the spot to monitor rescue operations. However, locals were the first to reach the spot and start rescue operations. NER public relation Officer Ashok Kumar said, “Train operations resumed on the track at around 12.30 pm.”
Jiya Lal later said “the situation in the area is completely under control. Eight children were killed in the incident. Number of casualties may increase as many of the injured are in a critical state.”
The deceased children included Aniket, 8, Naitik, 6, Shweta Mishra, 10, Abhishek, 8, Arpit Kumar, 7, Pradymun, 15, Shreyansh, 6 and Sakshi, 9.
(With inputs from HTCGorakhpur)