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Murshidabad: Three people, including two school students, lost their lives after a passenger train collided with a school van at a railway level crossing in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Friday morning. Several other children travelling in the vehicle sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

The accident occurred at around 7 am near Karnasubarna railway station in the Berhampore area. The school van was transporting students when it attempted to cross the railway tracks and was struck by the Nimtita-Katwa passenger train.

The impact severely damaged the vehicle, leaving its wreckage scattered across the tracks. Emergency responders and local residents rushed to the spot soon after the collision.

#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

Visuals from the accident site pic.twitter.com/wpzdL7Zqlf

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2026

The injured students were shifted to Murshidabad Medical College Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Officials have not yet released the exact number of those injured or details about their medical condition.

Authorities are expected to identify all the victims after completing formal procedures and informing their families.

According to eyewitnesses, the crossing gate had remained closed while a train passed on one track. They alleged that after the train passed, the gate was opened but was not shut again when another passenger train approached on the adjacent line, allowing the school van to enter the crossing.

The claims have not yet been officially confirmed.

The Railways has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 2.5 lakh for those injured. The railway gateman has been arrested, while the supervisor has been suspended. Authorities are also examining the role of the police.

Senior railway and police officials reached the accident site shortly after the incident and began examining the circumstances that led to the crash.

A railway official said, “The pool car, carrying the students to school, was crossing the rail lines at the level crossing gate near Karna Subarna station, about 48 km from Katwa, when the local train hit the vehicle.”

Officials have launched a formal investigation into the incident, including allegations of negligence involving the railway gateman. The inquiry will determine whether safety procedures were properly followed and if any lapses contributed to the fatal accident.