Uttar Pradesh (Web Desk): At least thirteen children were killed and eight others were injured on Thursday morning when a train rammed into their school van, Indian media reported.
According to details provided by a railway official, the accident occurred at an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar area, around 50 km from Gorakhpur while the train was on way to Gorakhpur from Siwan.
“It was an unmanned level crossing gate at Behpurva, with Gate Mitra [rail volunteer] deployed there. He tried to stop the van but the unfortunate incident happened at unmanned gate 45 near Dudhi station in Banaras division,” the spokesperson said in New Delhi.
There were at least 25 passengers, including children who were below the age of 10, in the van, the official said.
Railways spokesman Ved Prakash said, the students of Divine Public School, were killed on the spot when the Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train crashed into the van at the unmanned crossing gate at Behpurva.
An accident relief medical train from Gorakhpur has been dispatched to the site, he said.
He said the Chief Minister was rushing to the accident site for an on-the-spot assessment.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.
Further investigations are underway.