3 Killed, Including 2 Students, After Train Hits School Van at Murshidabad Level Crossing

BERHAMPORE, WEST BENGAL — Three people, including two school children, were killed and several others injured on Friday morning when a passenger train struck a school van at a level crossing in Murshidabad district, in one of the deadliest such accidents to hit the region in recent years. according to reports by Mainul Mondal from our local editor of murshidabad zone.

The collision occurred around 7 am at the Karnasubarna level crossing as the van was ferrying students to school. Eyewitnesses said the crossing gate was open when the vehicle began crossing the tracks, and the Nimtita-Katwa local train struck it with enough force to spin the van around. Some early reports put the toll as high as four, including three school children, and hospital officials have cautioned that the number could rise given the condition of the critically injured.

What Witnesses Say Happened

According to accounts from people at the scene, the Gobindpur crossing gate had been opened shortly after the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Express passed on the adjacent line. The van reportedly began crossing believing the tracks were clear, unaware that the Nimtita-Katwa local was approaching at speed on the down line. A police officer at the scene said preliminary findings pointed to an error by the railway gatekeeper in managing the crossing, and that the van driver did not appear to be at fault.

Casualties and Treatment

The injured, including several students and the van driver, were rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, with officials describing the condition of some as critical. Visuals from the site showed the van's wreckage still lying across the tracks in the aftermath of the crash.

Political Reaction

Union minister and West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar expressed grief over the deaths and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the crash, noting that the deaths of children made the tragedy especially painful. He said he expected the Railways to conduct its own separate inquiry into the incident.

A Recurring Pattern

Level-crossing accidents involving school vehicles have recurred periodically across India in recent years, with several past incidents also tied to gates being left open or vans attempting to beat an approaching train. Friday's crash is expected to renew scrutiny of level-crossing safety protocols in Murshidabad and neighboring districts.