A tragic railway accident in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district claimed the lives of three school students and a cyclist after a passenger train collided with a school van at a railway crossing on Friday morning. The devastating incident took place at the Gobindpur railway gate near Karnasubarna station, leaving the local community in shock. Four others, including the van driver and schoolchildren, sustained critical injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
According to police officials and eyewitnesses, the accident occurred shortly after the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Dham Express passed through the crossing. Officials said the railway gate had been closed to allow the express train to pass safely. However, the crossing was reportedly reopened soon afterwards, even though another train—the Nimtita-Katwa local passenger train—was expected to arrive on the same track.
Believing it was safe to cross after seeing the gate open, the driver of the school van attempted to drive across the railway tracks. At the same time, a cyclist also entered the crossing. Moments later, the approaching Nimtita-Katwa local train, reportedly travelling at high speed, struck the school van with tremendous force. The cyclist was also caught in the collision.
The impact completely crushed the van and threw it off the tracks. The children inside the vehicle became trapped in the mangled wreckage, while nearby residents rushed to the scene after hearing loud screams and the sound of the collision. Local people immediately began rescue operations before police and emergency personnel arrived.
Police from the Berhampore Police Station joined residents in rescuing the injured victims. The injured, including three school students and the van driver, were taken to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Authorities said the condition of the injured remains serious.
The deceased include three students from Gobindpur village and 50-year-old cyclist Jamshed Sheikh, who died at the scene. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination as part of the official investigation.
Following the incident, railway authorities launched a high-level inquiry to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the tragedy. Reports indicate that a four-member team of senior railway officials has been sent to the accident site to investigate whether there was any lapse in railway crossing operations, signalling, or safety procedures.
Officials are expected to examine eyewitness accounts, railway records, and operational protocols at the crossing. The investigation will also determine whether the crossing gate was opened prematurely and whether all standard safety measures were followed before allowing road traffic to cross the tracks.
At the time of writing, the Indian Railways had not issued an official statement regarding the accident. Local authorities, however, have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted and responsibility will be fixed if negligence is found.
The accident has once again highlighted concerns over safety at railway crossings across India, particularly those used daily by school vehicles and local commuters. Experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of strict adherence to signalling systems, proper gate management, and increased public awareness to prevent such tragedies.
As news of the accident spread, condolences poured in from local residents and public representatives. The heartbreaking loss of young students has left families and the entire Gobindpur community grieving.
The findings of the railway inquiry are expected to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the collision and recommend measures to strengthen safety at railway crossings, with the aim of preventing similar incidents in the future.