At least three people, including two schoolchildren, were killed and several others injured after a passenger train struck a school van at a level crossing in India’s West Bengal state on Friday morning.
The accident occurred at around 7am at the Karnasubarna railway crossing in Berhampore of Murshidabad district, according to Indian media reports.
The van was carrying students across the railway line when the speeding Nimtita-Katwa passenger train hit it.
Witnesses said the crossing gate was open at the time of the collision.
Photographs and videos from the scene showed the mangled remains of the van lying across the railway tracks.
Several injured students were taken to Murshidabad Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Local residents alleged that the gate had initially been closed while an up-line train passed and was reopened after it cleared the crossing.
They said the gatekeeper failed to close it again even though another train was approaching on the adjacent track, leading to the crash.
Railway authorities have launched an investigation into the accident, including allegations of negligence against the gatekeeper.
