Three school students and a cyclist were killed after a passenger train collided with a school van at an unmanned level crossing near Karnasubarna railway station in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Friday morning. Several others, including the van driver, sustained serious injuries.
The accident took place at around 7 am between Karnasubarna station and the Gobindapur rail gate on the Azimganj–Katwa railway section, nearly 214 km from Kolkata. The Tata Sumo van was carrying students to Royal Academy School when it attempted to cross the railway tracks and was struck by the Nimtita–Katwa local train.
According to railway officials, the local train was travelling on the down line at the time of the accident. Eyewitnesses alleged that the Gobindapur level crossing gate remained open even after the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Express had passed on the up line. Believing the route to be clear, the school van and a cyclist reportedly entered the crossing, only to be hit by the approaching passenger train.
The impact severely damaged the vehicle. Local residents rushed to the spot and helped rescue the injured, who were taken to Berhampore Medical College and Hospital. Four critically injured victims, including the van driver, were admitted to the intensive care unit.
The incident triggered protests by local residents, who alleged negligence on the part of railway authorities and the gatekeeper. Some protesters also claimed that the gatekeeper was under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred. However, railway officials have not confirmed those allegations.
Railway authorities have constituted a 10-member inquiry team to investigate the circumstances leading to the collision and determine whether there was any lapse in safety procedures at the level crossing.
Reacting to the tragedy, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar described the incident as "heartbreaking" and called for a thorough investigation into the accident.
The inquiry is expected to examine the functioning of the level crossing, the sequence of train movements, and whether established safety protocols were followed at the time of the collision.
