At least six school children and a van driver were killed when a train rammed into their school van at an unmanned railway crossing in Mau district of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Thursday morning.
The accident occurred due to negligence of the van driver who was driving with earphones on and could not hear the sound of the approaching train while crossing the railway tracks, railway sources said.
While the Railways and the State government have announced compensation for the affected families, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu visited the spot to take stock of the situation and visit the injured.
According to reports, the accident occurred around 8 a.m. when the Tamsa passenger train that was heading towards Varanasi hit the school van at the crossing between Mau and Khurahat railway stations.
Sources said children tried to alert the driver who was listening to songs with his earphones on. Terming the incident “unfortunate,” Mr. Prabhu announced Rs.2 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs.1 lakh for those seriously injured in the accident.
