West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari (File Photo)West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday expressed grief over the school van-train accident in Murshidabad, extending condolences to the families of those killed, particularly the children, and assuring support to the injured and affected families.
In a post on X, Adhikari said he had directed the administration to provide all possible assistance. He said Minister Gouri Sankar Ghosh had visited the hospital, while the district magistrate and superintendent of police were supervising relief operations. He added that Health Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee was overseeing treatment to ensure the injured received the best possible medical care.
The chief minister further said negligence would not be tolerated and informed that the railway gateman had been arrested by the state police.
Five people including three children have died after a train rammed a school van crossing railway tracksin West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Friday.
The tragedy unfolded moments after the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Dham Express passed through the area. Speaking to the Indian Express, a police officer said the railway crossing was shut when the express train passed. Soon after, it was opened even though a passenger train was scheduled to pass next. The driver of the van carrying school students spotted the open crossing and tried to drive across the tracks. At the same time, a cyclist tried to cross the tracks. “The Nimtita-Katwa local train, hurtling at high speed, rammed the school van,” said the police officer.
Train services on the Azimganj–Katwa section of Eastern Railway’s Howrah division were disrupted following the accident, the official said.
The General Manager of Eastern Railway has ordered a high-level inquiry into today's collision.
The inquiry will be conducted by a committee of SAG officers, headed by the Principal Chief Safety Officer (PCSO). The panel will also include three SAG officers from the Operating, Engineering, and Signal & Telecommunication Departments to investigate circumstances leading to the incident.
CPRO, Eastern Railway, Shibram Manjhi in a statement to media said that the railway has taken strict action after the incident and gate man is arrested. In a statement further, he said that the Compensation of Rs 10 lakh ex grantia has been announced while treatment of Treatment of the injured is ongoing.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the school van-train collision that claimed the lives of three children and left several others injured.
In a post on X, he said the government was ensuring that the "best medical care" was being provided to those undergoing treatment.
Adhikari further said that the gateman had been arrested by the state police and that a thorough inquiry would be conducted. He added that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for the incident.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsDeeply saddened by the tragic train accident in Murshidabad this morning.
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) July 17, 2026
My heart goes out to the families especially parents of the young students who lost their lives. There are no words to ease such profound pain and the entire State stands with the bereaved families during…
Berhampore MP Yusuf Pathan on Friday expressed grief over the school van-train accident at the Govindapur level crossing near Karna Subarna in Murshidabad, offering condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
In a statement, Pathan called for a "thorough and impartial inquiry" to determine the circumstances that led to the accident and urged authorities to implement preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
He also said he stood in solidarity with the bereaved families and assured them of all possible support and assistance. "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones," he said.
Local residents alleged negligence by railway staff and questioned the functioning of the level-crossing and signalling system.
"The barrier had been lowered for the express train. Once it passed, the gateman raised it. The passenger train was running late. Seeing the gate open, the van driver thought the tracks were clear. The train came out of nowhere at high speed. It was pure negligence," an eyewitness claimed.
Another resident alleged, "Why did the gate remain open when a train was approaching on the down line? Where was the gateman, and why did the signalling system fail? Young lives have been lost because someone didn't do their job."
Railway authorities have initiated a high-level inquiry into the incident. According to reports, a four-member team of senior officials has left Howrah for the accident site to conduct an assessment. An official statement from the Railways is awaited.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumder on Friday expressed grief over the school van-train collision in West Bengal's Berhampore, saying the death of children was "even more heartbreaking" and calling for a thorough probe.
"Any loss of life is tragic, but the death of children is even more heartbreaking. A thorough inquiry is necessary, and I believe the Railways will conduct a separate investigation," Majumder told reporters in Bagdogra.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsBagdogra, West Bengal | On the school van-train accident in Berhampore, Union Minister Sukanta Majumder says, "Any loss of life is tragic, but the death of children is even more heartbreaking. A thorough inquiry is necessary, and I believe the Railways will conduct a separate… pic.twitter.com/Ks3PTS9Oo3
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2026
The accident occurred around 7 am at a level-crossing near Karna Subarna railway station in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, PTI reported, citing an Eastern Railway official.
“The pool car, carrying the students to school, was crossing the railway tracks at the level-crossing gate near Karna Subarna station, about 48 km from Katwa, when a local train hit the vehicle,” the official said.
According to the official, the level-crossing gate was open at the time of the accident. The injured were rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, with some reported to be in critical condition.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | West Bengal: Three persons, including two school children, died when a pool car they were travelling in was hit by a train in Murshidabad district. The accident occurred around 7 am at a level-crossing gate near the Karna Subarna Railway Station.#murshidabad… pic.twitter.com/8L2BbdWCwZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2026
At least 3 children are dead and several injured in the van-train collision in West Bengal's Murshidabad after a train rams a school van trying to cross railway track.
https://platform.x.com/widgets.js#watch | West Bengal | A number of students were injured after a vehicle carrying school students was hit by a train at a railway level crossing at Karnasuvarna in Murshidabad's Berhampore
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2026
Visuals from the accident site pic.twitter.com/wpzdL7Zqlf
Several students got injured after a school bus carrying them was hit by a train at a railway level crossing at Karnasuvarna in Murshidabad's Berhampore.
More details awaited.
(ANI)
