Adityanath visits Kushinagar accident victims, orders enquiry

Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 26 (ANI): Condoling the loss of lives in the collision between a school bus and a train at an unmanned crossing in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that it was an unfortunate incident. He said this during a visit to the civic hospital to meet the injured.

He told ANI, “Today, an unfortunate incident has taken place. My heart goes out to the family members who have lost their children.”

He informed that he had spoken to Union Minister for Railways Manoj Sinha about the incident, and said “The driver of the van is prima facie at fault." He was probably driving with his earphones on.

"The Uttar Pradesh Government will take strict action against the people responsible for the incident and required arrangements shall be made to avoid any similar incidents in the future," Chief Minister Adityanath assured.

He also pulled up the school authorirties for sending the critically injured to BRD Medical College instead of to a hihger graded medical institution.

The  Chief Minister also visited the site of the accident.

Adityanath announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs to the family of deceased.

He also called for manual operation of the railway crossing.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said 18 school students were travelling in the vehicle out of which 11 have died.

"Seven are critically injured, the death toll may go up," he added.

The students were from the Divine Public School.  (ANI)