Lucknow/New Delhi: Five schoolchildren were yesterday killed in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh when a passenger train crashed into their van at an unmanned railway crossing. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu blamed “negligent driving” for the tragedy.
The accident took place near Khutahar village when the Tamsa passenger train rammed into the school van which was carrying around 25 children.
Twenty children were injured and eight of them, who were in serious condition, were rushed to Varanasi for treatment.
Officials said the driver of the school van was listening to songs on his earphone and, therefore, could not hear the
approaching train.
The school van was destroyed in the accident.
Angry parents squatted at the railway crossing for nearly an hour, demanding action against the culprits.
In New Delhi, Railway Minister Prabhu blamed the school van-driver for the accident.
In a statement in the Lok Sabha, Prabhu said “negligent driving” was to be blamed for the accident.
The minister said visibility was poor because of the morning fog.
He said a compensation of Rs200,000 would be given to the families of each of the deceased, Rs100,000 to those grievously injured and Rs20,000 to those with minor injuries.
Prabhu said the government was trying to find ways to prevent such accidents.
ians
