Eighteen people were killed and 14 injured when the Satluj Express tore into a private mini bus carrying mostly students and teachers at a manned railway crossing.
CHANDIGARH/MOGA/KOLKATA: Eighteen people, including at least seven schoolchildren, were killed and 11 injured when the Ludhiana-Ferozepur Sutlej Express tore into a private minibus carrying mostly students and teachers near Moga in Punjab on Friday morning.
Moga deputy commissioner of police RS Johl said the accident took place at a railway crossing near Nu Chur Chak village at 8.22 am when bus driver Iqbal Singh forced the gateman to open the gate and drove in. With a thick fog engulfing the area, Iqbal could not gauge the distance of the approaching train and rammed into it, eyewitnesses and DIG of Police, Ferozepur Range, Ishwar Chand said.
The bus going from Jagraon and Lopo village was dragged over 200 yards before the train could come to a halt.
Police have registered a case against both Iqbal and the gateman, who fled the accident spot soon after the mishap.
Sixteen persons died on the spot, whereas two breathed their last in hospitals at Jagraon and Ludhiana, railway officials said. Another is fighting for his life, they added.
A railway probe has been instituted into the accident.
Most of the victims, mostly students and teachers, belonged to Nu Chur Chak and were going to visit the various educational institutes in the area.
Meanwhile, railway minister Lalu Prasad has announced a compensation of Rs5 lakh each to the families of the dead, Rs50,000 each to the grievously injured and Rs15,000 each to those with minor injuries.
In addition, Railways will consider giving jobs to a family member of those dead but they should belong to the poorest of the poor section of society.
“If it is found that the gate was open, an FIR will be lodged against the gateman charging him with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He will be immediately placed under suspension,” Prasad told reporters in Kolkata.
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who visited the site in the afternoon, also announced an ex gratia of Rs2 lakh to the kin of the deceased. The state government will also meet all treatment expenses of the injured.
b_ajay@dnaindia.net
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