Three school students and a cyclist were killed on Friday after a passenger train rammed into a school van at a railway crossing near Gobindpur village in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.
The accident took place at the Gobindpur railway gate near Karnasubarna station on the Azimganj-Katwa section of Eastern Railway when the Nimtita-Katwa local train collided with the van carrying schoolchildren. A
ccording to police officials and eyewitnesses, the railway crossing had reportedly been opened shortly after the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Dham Express passed, despite another train approaching on the same route.
Four people, including three students and the van driver, sustained critical injuries and were taken to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital.
Local residents have alleged negligence in railway gate operations and questioned the signalling system, while railway authorities have ordered a high-level inquiry by a four-member team of senior officials. Train services were disrupted after residents blocked tracks in protest, demanding accountability and answers over the deaths.
Tragedy At Railway Crossing
The accident occurred early Friday morning when a school van carrying children from Gobindpur village attempted to cross the railway tracks near the Gobindpur railway gate. Moments later, the Nimtita-Katwa local train travelling through the route struck the vehicle with tremendous force.
The impact completely damaged the van and threw it away from the tracks. Three students inside the vehicle died on the spot. A 50-year-old cyclist, identified as Jamshed Sheikh, also lost his life in the collision.
Four others, including the van driver and three students, suffered serious injuries and were immediately shifted to the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for medical treatment. The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination.
According to police officials, the accident happened shortly after the Howrah-bound Nabadwip Dham Express had crossed the railway gate. A police officer said the crossing was closed when the express train passed. However, the gate was allegedly opened soon afterwards, even though another passenger train was expected on the same track.
“The driver of the van saw the gate open and tried to cross. At the same time, the Nimtita-Katwa local train was approaching,” the officer said, according to reports.
The collision left children trapped inside the damaged vehicle. Hearing their cries, local residents rushed to the spot and began rescue efforts before police teams from Berhampore station arrived.
Questions Over Railway Safety
The incident has triggered anger among residents, who have raised concerns over possible negligence in railway gate management and communication systems. Several eyewitnesses claimed that the railway barrier had been lowered for the express train but was lifted soon after it passed, despite another train approaching on the route.
“The barrier was closed for the express train. After it passed, the gateman opened it. The passenger train was running late, and seeing the gate open, the van driver assumed that the track was clear,” an eyewitness said. Another resident questioned why the crossing was allowed to remain open when a train was approaching.
“Why did the gate remain open when a train was coming on the down line? Where was the gateman, and why did the signalling system fail? Young lives have been lost because someone did not do their duty,” the resident said.
However, the exact cause of the accident will be established only after the completion of the railway investigation. Authorities are expected to examine whether there was a lapse by railway personnel, a technical failure, or a communication gap between train operations and crossing management.
The accident has also highlighted long-standing concerns around railway crossings where road users depend on timely coordination between gatekeepers, signals and train movement systems.
Railway Launches Probe
Following the tragedy, railway authorities initiated a high-level inquiry into the circumstances that led to the collision. A four-member team of senior railway officials reportedly travelled from Howrah to the accident site to conduct an assessment.
The team is expected to examine the condition of the railway crossing, records related to train movement, signalling information and the actions of railway personnel deployed at the gate.
The Eastern Railway is yet to issue a detailed official statement regarding the accident. Meanwhile, local residents staged protests following the deaths and blocked railway tracks, affecting train movement on the Azimganj-Katwa section.
The protestors demanded accountability and sought clarity on why the railway crossing was opened when another train was approaching.
Railway authorities and local administration officials are working to restore normal train operations while the inquiry continues.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The loss of young lives in a railway crossing accident is a painful reminder that safety systems must work without failure, especially when they involve children and everyday commuters. While the investigation will determine responsibility, the immediate priority must remain supporting the grieving families and ensuring that such tragedies do not become repeated incidents caused by preventable lapses.
Railway crossings require strict adherence to safety protocols, effective communication systems and accountability at every level. Public safety cannot depend on assumptions, delays or human error.
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