Five children die as train rams into school van

A speeding train rammed into a school van at an unmanned level crossing in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district, about 325 kilometres from here, on Thursday, killing five kindergarten students and injuring over a dozen others.

Four of the injured were critical, according to the police sources here. The mishap occurred around eight in the morning when the ill-fated van, allegedly driven by a headphone wearing driver, was hit by the passenger train near Khurhant railway station on Azamgarh-Shahganj section of the north eastern railway.

Sources said that the driver of the van had put on headphones and could not hear the children’s shouts, who had spotted the train.

The injured were admitted to the district hospital. Four children were referred to the Banaras Hindu University medical college hospital as their condition was critical, sources said.

Angry locals later staged a demonstration at Khurhant railway station in protest against the incident and demanding construction of gate at the level crossing.

UP government has announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 2.5 lakh each to the next of  kin of the deceased. A probe has also been ordered into the incident.