A tragic incident in Karnasubarna, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, led to the deaths of four individuals, including three schoolchildren, when a train collided with a van at a railway crossing. Investigations revealed that the gateman’s negligence was the primary cause of the accident. The gateman, reportedly intoxicated, failed to close the rail gate despite being warned about an approaching train.
The van driver, unaware of the oncoming train due to the open gate, attempted to cross the railway line, resulting in the fatal collision. Following the incident, the railways suspended the negligent gateman and he was subsequently arrested by the police. Local residents had previously raised concerns about the gateman’s behavior, alleging instances of drunkenness during duty hours.
While three schoolchildren lost their lives in the collision, four others, including three students, are in critical condition at Baharampur Medical College and Hospital. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a former Congress Lok Sabha member, visited the site post-incident, attributing the mishap to the gateman’s fault. Chowdhury highlighted the need to investigate infrastructure issues and the gateman’s employment status and training.
