Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jul 17: The death toll in the train-school van collision at a railway crossing in Karnasubarna, located in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, has climbed to five, including four schoolchildren and an adult, officials said on Friday.
Several other students and the van driver sustained injuries in the accident and are undergoing treatment at Baharampur Medical College and Hospital.
Following the tragedy, both the Railways and the West Bengal government announced financial assistance for the victims' families. The Railways declared an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased, while Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced an additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh per family.
In a statement shared on social media, the Chief Minister said the state administration had been instructed to extend all necessary support to the injured and bereaved families. He said Minister Gouri Sankar Ghosh had visited the hospital to assess the situation, while the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police had been overseeing rescue and relief efforts since the morning.
The Chief Minister also assured that the injured were receiving the best available medical care, adding that Health Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee was personally monitoring treatment at Baharampur Medical College and Hospital.
Stressing that negligence would not be overlooked, the Chief Minister confirmed that the railway gateman on duty had been arrested and promised a comprehensive investigation into the incident. He said strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible.
According to the preliminary investigation, the accident was caused by serious negligence on the part of the gateman. Officials alleged that he was under the influence of alcohol and failed to close the railway gate despite being informed that the Nimtita-Katwa local train was approaching at high speed on the down line.
Unaware that the crossing remained unsafe, the school van driver attempted to cross the tracks when the train struck the vehicle, resulting in the deaths of five people.
The Railways have suspended the gateman with immediate effect on charges of gross negligence, and he was subsequently taken into custody by the state police as the investigation continues.