M A I N   N E W S

6 kids dead in van-train collision
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

THERI (Muktsar), Jan 28 — At least six schoolchildren were killed and four others injured when a van carrying them rammed into a running train at an unmanned railway level crossing here today.

Police sources said Mohinder Singh, the driver of the van, who first stopped the vehicle on seeing the train coming from Bathinda side, tried to cross the railway track again and the train ploughed into the van. The train was going to Sriganganagar from Bathinda.

Official sources said Mohinder Singh applied the brakes instead of accelerator while trying to cross the railway track and the rear of the van got entangled with the engine of the train.

Those killed in the accident have been identified as Amandeep Kaur and Harnit Kaur of Fakarsar village, Rajinder Singh and his sister Navdeep Kaur of Theri village and Harsimran Singh of Tharajwala village. The injured Gurminder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Mohinder Singh, driver of the van, have been shifted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, where the condition of two of the injured is serious.

Parminderpal Singh, another student who suffered head injuries as he fell out of the van has been admitted to Civil Hospital, Malout.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.S. Soodan, who reached the spot soon after the accident said a magisterial inquiry would be held into the accident.

The driver of the train, Mr Heera Lal Verma told TNS that his assistant driver told him that a van was trying to cross the unmanned level crossing and he blew the whistle to warn the driver of the van. He said the driver of the van at first stopped the vehicle but started the vehicle again to cross the track. “I slowed down the train but could not avert the accident,” he said.

Mr Vijay Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, (DM), Ambala, who along with a team of other senior officials rushed to the spot along with a relief train, said that accident had taken place due to the negligence of the driver of the van.

There was no need of an inquiry as it had been established that the driver of the van ignored the warning given by the driver of the train.

Mr Nirmal Singh, Commandant, Railway Protection Force, who visited the spot said the General Railway Police, Ferozepore, would investigate the matter.

Traffic on the affected section had been restored, a railway spokesman said.