Lucknow, April 26: At least 13 school children and the school van driver have succumbed in a serious accident when a Gorakhpur-bound passenger train rammed into the school van at an unmanned railway crossing in Kushinagar district early this morning. Another eight students have been rushed to the Kushinagar district hospital where they are being treated.
The driver of the van succumbed to his injuries at the hospital soon after arrival.
The accident occurred at Dudhi-Bahpurwa Railway cross under Vishnupura police station at 6.50 am when the school van of Divine Public School carrying around 25 children reportedly ignored the approaching 55075 Gorakhpur- Barhni passenger train to cross the railway line.
Expressing his condolences chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed Commissioner Gorakhpur division Anil Kumar to conduct an immediate enquiry into the cause of the accident.
Postponing his scheduled trip to Amroha in western Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi is expected to arrive in Kushinagar in a little while.
He has also announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of the deceased.
According to an eyewitness the train horn was audible as it was approaching the unmanned crossing. The van driver, apparently getting late for school, took a chance which cost him and the childrens lives.
Speaking to reporters Gorakhpur- headquartered North Eastern Division CPRO Sanjay Yadav while described the accident as unfortunate said that at unmanned crossing the onus was on the road user.
He said that preliminary reports suggest that the Gate Mitra on duty at the crossing had alerted the school van driver of the approaching train which he had ignored the warning causing the accident.
Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
