Seven school children lost their lives in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi when the van they were travelling in collided with the Allahabad-Varanasi passenger train at an unmanned railway crossing today.
Support Independent Media
The media must be free and fair, uninfluenced by corporate or state interests. That's why you, the public, need to pay to keep news free.
ContributeAs many as 12 children are reported to be injured in the accident. The van belonged to Tender Heart Public School. The injured have been rushed to the Institute of Medical Sciences-Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. As per initial reports, the driver of the train refused to stop despite a signal from the gangman.
The accident highlights the danger of unmanned railway crossings. There are reportedly 10,440 unmanned level crossings (more than 35 per cent of all crossings) in the country. Though the Ministry of Railways plans to eliminate them in a phased manner, the Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha told the Rajya Sabha earlier this year that no fixed annual targets have been set for the elimination of these crossings.
Power NL-TNM Election Fund
General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have ambitious plans together to focus on the issues that really matter to the voter. From political funding to battleground states, media coverage to 10 years of Modi, choose a project you would like to support and power our journalism.
Ground reportage is central to public interest journalism. Only readers like you can make it possible. Will you?