On a somber day in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, a devastating collision between a train and a school van at a railway crossing in Karnasubarna has resulted in the loss of five lives, including four school children and one adult. The incident occurred earlier in the day, leaving several other schoolchildren and the van driver injured, with the injured currently undergoing treatment at Baharampur Medical College and Hospital.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced compensation of Rs 5,00,000 to the kin of each deceased, while the Railways department has pledged Rs 10 lakh for each family. The Chief Minister has directed the administration to provide all possible assistance to the affected families and injured individuals, with Minister Gouri Sankar Ghosh monitoring the situation and the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police supervising operations on site.
A preliminary investigation has revealed gross negligence on the part of the railway gateman, who was in an inebriated state and failed to close the rail gate despite being informed of the approaching Nimtita-Katwa local train. The gateman has been suspended by the Railways and subsequently arrested by the state police. The Chief Minister has assured that the strictest possible action will be taken against those found responsible for the tragedy, emphasizing that negligence will not be tolerated.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalorean News