West Bengal Tragedy: 2 Students Killed, 5 Injured After Train Rams School Bus In Murshidabad

A tragic accident took place in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Friday morning when a passenger train collided with a school van at a level crossing, leaving four people, including three schoolchildren, dead and several others critically injured.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 7 a.m. near Karnasubarna as the school van was carrying students to school. Three students and the van driver sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Baharampur Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Earlier reports had said two students were killed and five injured, but officials later confirmed that the death toll had risen to four.

Eyewitnesses said the Gobindpur railway crossing gate was open when the van attempted to cross the tracks. Just moments earlier, the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Express had passed on the up line. As the van crossed, the Nimtita-Katwa local train approached on the down line at high speed and rammed into the vehicle, leaving it completely mangled.

Local residents immediately launched rescue operations before police personnel arrived at the scene. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, where doctors said the condition of three students and the driver remains critical. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll increasing.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident may have been caused by negligence on the part of the railway gateman. According to initial findings, the level crossing remained open despite information that the Nimtita-Katwa local train was approaching. Eyewitnesses also claimed that the school van driver was not at fault, as he crossed the tracks believing it was safe to do so because the gate had not been closed.

Following the incident, the Railway Department has deputed a four-member team of senior officials from Howrah to inspect the accident site. The team is expected to submit a detailed report to higher authorities after completing its investigation.