15 die as train rams into van in UP

In a tragic incident, 15 persons were killed and three others seriously injured when a speeding passenger train rammed into the van in which they were traveling at an unmanned level crossing in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district, about 400 kilometers from here on Tuesday.

According to police sources, the mishap occurred around 7 pm near Maidu Railway Station when the ill fated overcrowded van  got stuck up at the level crossing while trying to cross it.

“The driver of the van panicked as the passengers in the van started shouting on watching the train coming at them in speed,” said an eye witness. 15 people were killed on the spot, said officials, who reached at the site of the accident. The van was carrying about 23 passengers, all coming from Sathia village in Sasni tehsil.

Railway authorities blamed the driver of the van for the tragedy.

“The level crossing is perpendicular to the road and the visibility was also excellent...the driver failed to spot the train,” said an official.

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of the kins of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured.

Newly appointed Railway Minister Mukul Roy has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those killed in the accident and Rs 15,000 each to the injured.

The accident once again reinforces the importance of giving manpower support to all the 14,853 unmanned railway crossings enumerated till now in the country.