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Latest updates: As Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath reached the accident site to talk to the protesters, hundreds of people gathered to demand more compensation and swift action. Meanwhile, Railway Board chairman Ashwini Lohani said all unmanned railway crossings in the country will either be closed or be converted to manned crossings soon. The district magistrate in Kushinagar has ordered all the schools in the district to remain shut. Congress MLA Ajay Kumar said that continuous demands for a manned railway crossing were ignored. Locals near Dudahi have started protesting and are demanding a manned railway crossing at the site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind have expressed sadness over the accident. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has rushed to the accident site. According to 101Reporters, the driver of the vehicle was warned by people near the crossing to stop the vehicle. However, by the time the driver stopped, the vehicle was already on the railway tracks. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister has directed the district administration to provide all medical assistance. At least 13 school children died on Thursday after the vehicle carrying them collided with a train at an unmanned crossing in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar. Reports also said that eight children have been injured in the accident. The children were students of the Divine Mission School and were killed on the spot. According to news reports, the driver of the vehicle was also killed when the accident took place at around 7.10 am. According to police officials, the collision between the school van and train number 55075 occurred at an unmanned railway crossing in Bahpurva, which falls under the Vishunpura police station limits, about 22 km from the district headquarters. News18 reported that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased children. He has also directed Gorakhpur commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the accident. Senior district officials have also rushed to the spot.
Kushinagar accident updates: Dozens of protesters throng mishap site; Yogi Adityanath blames van driver
At least 13 school children died on Thursday after the vehicle carrying them collided with a train at an unmanned crossing in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar.
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Congress’ Kapil Sibal offers his condolences
President, vice-president express grief
Yogi Adityanath addresses the media at Dudahi village
— Ved Prakash Tiwari
Protesters demand Rs 50 lakh as compensation
The protest have started again in Dudahi village, and people are demanding Rs 50 lakh as compensation.
— Ved Prakash Tiwari
Thousands thronging the accident site to protest
Thousands protest against Yogi Adityanath, railway administration at Kushinagar
Thousands of angry residents are gathering at the accident site to protest the deaths of 13 children in Kushinagar. Anger against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his administration is rising, media reports have said.
Principal, owner of Divine Mission School go missing
Principal of the Divine Mission School, KJ Khan, and the school owner have both reportedly gone missing.
No step foolproof against negligence: Ashwini Lohani
“Railways trying to eliminate unmanned crossings, but people will still need to be careful,” says Railway Board chairman Ashwini Lohani. “Even after we eliminate unmanned railway crossings, or convert them to manned crossings, people will have to be careful. No step can be foolproof against negligence.”
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal releases statement, says he’s ‘deeply anguished’
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has released a statement, saying, “I am deeply anguished and pained by the loss of lives of young school children at an unmanned level crossing (UMLC) in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. My thoughts are with families of the deceased and I pray for the early recovery of the injured. The Ministry of Railways will provide an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh for kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those with serious injuries and Rs 50,000 for those with simple injuries. I have ordered a senior level enquiry into the incident. We stand committed to take all possible steps to avoid such accidents in future.”
BJP leaders await the arrival of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the spot
List of deceased children
Adityanath expresses grief over incident
“I express my condolence over the unfortunate incident. I spoke to the railway minister on this and we have got to know that this happened due to the driver’s carelessness. I have met the parents who lost their children and have assured them that strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in this accident,” said Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
— 101Reporters/Gaurav Tripathi
Investigations will reveal who was at fault: Yogi Adityanath
Fault appears to lie with driver of the van: Adityanath
“The fault appears to lie with the driver of the van, who it is said, was driving with earphones on. I have instructed the commissioner at Gorakhpur to investigate. An FIR has been registered and the probe has begun. We will take strict action against those found guilty,” said Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
Trying to eliminate unmanned level crossings: Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani
Onus on commuters to be careful at unmnaned railway crossings: Railway Board
“The railways’ aim is to stop not just unmanned railway crossings, but also manned crossings,” says Railway Board chairman Ashwini Lohani. “There is a hut with a guard present at the manned railway crossings. But at unmanned railway crossings, there is nothing. The onus is on commuters and people to be careful.”
Railways has ordered enquiry, says Ashwini Lohani
“We have ordered an enquiry, which will reveal what had happened. There was visibility of 800 metres, and the driver should have seen the train coming,” said Railway Board chairman Ashwini Lohani.
Bodies of the deceased children brought to the district hospital for post-mortem
Image by Gaurav Tripathi, 101Reporters
Visuals from the district hospital
Video by Ashok Shukla
Strict action will be taken school: Kushinagar BSA
Input by Gaurav Tripathi, 101Reporters
Demands for manned railway crossing were ignored by administration: Congress MLA
Inside view of the destroyed vehicle
Image by Ved Prakash, 101Reporters
Initial press release by police names the children who died in the accident
Image by Ved Prakash, 101Reporters
Locals protest near Dudahi, demand greater compensation
Angry over the accident, locals have started protesting near Dudahi. They are demanding the ex-gratia to be raised to Rs 50 lakh and also want a manned railway crossing at the accident site.
Image and input by Ved Prakash, 101Reporters
Congress MLA Ajay Kumar reaches accident site
Image by Ved Prakash Tiwar, 101Reporters
Ashok Gehlot expresses grief
Narendra Modi expresses condolences
“I just heard about the sad accident in Kushinagar. I express my condolences. I’m sure the Uttar Pradesh government and the railway authorities will conduct the necessary investigation into the incident,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing Karnataka BJP leaders.
President Ram Nath Kovind ‘shocked to learn about horrific accident’
Railways to provide ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to kin of deceased: Piyush Goyal
Accident took place due to carelessness of the bus driver: DSP
According to the DSP, the accident took place due to the carelessness of the driver, who was reportedly using earphones while driving. The bus was also overloaded, said the DSP. He also said that the exact number of children present inside the vehicle is yet to be ascertained.
Input by Saurabh Sharma, 101Reporters
Watch: CPRO NE Sanjay Yadav gives statement on the accident
Video by Saurabh Sharma, 101Reporters
Watch: Visuals of the accident site
Injured school children receive medical aid
Image by Gaurav Tripathi, 101Reporters
Injured school children receive medical aid
Image by Gaurav Tripathi, 101Reporters
Jyotiraditya Scindia expresses grief
Accident relief medical train dispatched to the site
News18 reports that an accident relief medical train from Gorakhpur has been dispatched to the site of the accident.
“It was unmanned level crossing gate at Behpurva, with Gate Mitra deployed there. He tried to stop but unfortunate incident happened at unmanned gate 45 near Dudhi station in Banaras division,” the report also quoted Railways spokesperson Ved Prakash as saying.
Watch: Visuals of the damaged school bus
Video by Gudoo Kumar Chandan, 101Reporters
Nearly 25 children were in the vehicle
“There were nearly 25 school kids in the van. The children were on their way to their school when the incident took place. The incident took place near a rail crossing. The injured have been taken to the hospital. Many residents of the area had gathered when the incident took place,” Zee News quoted Additional SP Hari Govind as saying.