Close X
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
ADVT 
India

13 Children Killed After Train Rams Into School Van At Railway Crossing In UP's Kushinagar

Darpan News Desk IANS, 26 Apr, 2018 11:31 AM
    At least 13 students under 10 years were killed when a speeding train rammed into their school van at an unmanned rail crossing in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh and halted only after dragging the mangled vehicle for some 100 metres.
     
     
    At least four students and the driver of the van, who Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath alleged had an earphone and was listening to music while driving, were among the injured, doctors and officials said. Two of them were in critical condition.
     
     
    The horrific incident took place around 7.10 a.m. at the Dudhi Behpurva rail gate when the children were headed to a Divine Public School and were hit by the Gorakhpur-Siwan Passenger at the Dudhi Behpurva crossing, 100 km from Gorakhpur.
     
     
    The injured were rushed to Pandrauna Hospital, about 30 km away. Indian Railways spokesperson Ved Prakash told IANS that the children died on the spot.
     
     
    President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives.
     
     
    "Shocked to learn about the horrific accident... Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families and with those injured," the President tweeted. 
     
     
    Modi conveyed his deep pain over the incident and asked the Railways and Uttar Pradesh government to take appropriate action in the matter. 
     
     
    Railway Board Chairman Ashwahi Lohani on Thursday said the Railways were committed to "eliminate unmanned level crossings" but said people needed to be careful while crossing the unmanned level crossings.
     
     
    "Basically, people have to be careful. There is no substitute for that. We cannot take any step that is foolproof."
     
     
    A North Eastern Railway official said at least 25 people, mostly children below the age of 10 years, were in the van.
     
     
    "I am deeply anguished and pained by the loss of lives of young school children... My thoughts are with families of the deceased and I pray for the early recovery of the injured," Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in a statement. 
     
     
    The Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the victims, Rs 1 lakh to those critically injured and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries.
     
     
     
     
    He said he had ordered an enquiry into the incident. "We stand committed to take all possible steps to avoid such accidents in future."
     
     
     
     
    An accident relief medical train from Gorakhpur was dispatched to the site. 
     
     
    Adityanath visited the accident site and the hospital to meet the injured children. He directed the Divisional Commissioner of Gorakhpur to conduct a probe into the incident. He too announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
     
     
    After meeting the injured at the hospital, he said: "I am told that the van driver was wearing earphones while driving... This is a case of pure negligence.
     
     
    "An inquiry has been ordered... The guilty will face the most severe punishment," he said.
     
     
    Adityanath later told the media that prima facie the accident appeared to be the fault of the van driver, who apparently was listening to music on his earphones. 
     
     
    "I spoke to the Railway Minister and have requested him to find a way out to ensure that such unmanned railway crossings be manned," he said.
     
     
    An official said the Chief Minister had ordered that school vans across the state be checked on whether they were following the safety guidelines or not.
     
     
    In Lucknow, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanded that the railways appoint staff at all unmanned level crossings across the country to make them safer for people.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    If I Give You Piggy Bank, Will You Solve Mother's Case: 5-Year-Old Meerut Girl To Cop- WATCH

    If I Give You Piggy Bank, Will You Solve Mother's Case: 5-Year-Old Meerut Girl To Cop- WATCH
    The Meerut girl visited Inspector General Ram Kumar at his office on Tuesday along with her maternal grandfather.

    If I Give You Piggy Bank, Will You Solve Mother's Case: 5-Year-Old Meerut Girl To Cop- WATCH

    Union Minister Mocks Modi's Swachh Bharat Drive, Caught Urinating In Public, Photo Goes Viral

    Union Minister Mocks Modi's Swachh Bharat Drive, Caught Urinating In Public, Photo Goes Viral
    While Singh refused to meet media, sources close to him said the picture, which came into circulation today, is an old one.

    Union Minister Mocks Modi's Swachh Bharat Drive, Caught Urinating In Public, Photo Goes Viral

    Scolded For Failing Exam, DELHI Teenager Commits Suicide

    Scolded For Failing Exam, DELHI Teenager Commits Suicide
    A 17-year-old boy committed suicide here as he was "often scolded" by parents for failing Class XI examination, police said on Thursday.

    Scolded For Failing Exam, DELHI Teenager Commits Suicide

    McDonald's Shuts 43 Outlets In Delhi As Eating Licences Expire

    McDonald's Shuts 43 Outlets In Delhi As Eating Licences Expire
    In a setback to the US-based fast food chain McDonald's, 43 of the total 55 outlets will be shut in Delhi from on Thursday, on failure to renew eating house licences by its North and East India licensee Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd (CPRL). 

    McDonald's Shuts 43 Outlets In Delhi As Eating Licences Expire

    Men Do Not Commit Suicide, Says Minister Maneka Gandhi On Facebook

    Men Do Not Commit Suicide, Says Minister Maneka Gandhi On Facebook
    According to the National Crime Records Bureau, as many as 1,33,623 suicides were reported in the country in 2015, of which 68 per cent were committed by men.

    Men Do Not Commit Suicide, Says Minister Maneka Gandhi On Facebook

    Seven-Month Pregnant Woman Killed As Husband Pressed Her Stomach To Force Foetus Out: Punjab Police

    Seven-Month Pregnant Woman Killed As Husband Pressed Her Stomach To Force Foetus Out: Punjab Police
    Manjit Kaur’s father Ravinder Singh told the police that on Monday someone from the village told him about hearing Manjit’s cries in the night.

    Seven-Month Pregnant Woman Killed As Husband Pressed Her Stomach To Force Foetus Out: Punjab Police