A school van was struck by a speeding train while crossing the tracks at the Govindpur railway gate in Murshidabad, West Bengal, on Friday, killing three people, including two children and an elderly person, on the spot. Several other children in the van and a cyclist were left critically injured in the collision. The injured were rushed to Berhampore Hospital for treatment, and both the railway police and the local police have opened an investigation into the accident.
How and When the Accident Happened
According to information gathered so far, the accident took place on Friday, July 17, 2026, between Karnasubarna and Govindpur stations, an area that falls under the Berhampore police station. The exact time of the crash has not yet been confirmed. However, eyewitnesses said the level-crossing gate was open when the van attempted to cross the tracks, and it was this open gate that led directly to the collision. The lapse has now raised serious questions about the role of the railway gateman posted at the crossing.
Gate Was Shut, Then Reopened, Before the Second Train Arrived
Locals said that shortly before the accident, an up-line train had passed through the same crossing, during which the gate had been kept closed. Once that train passed, the gate was reopened. Soon after, another train arrived from the opposite direction, but this time the gate was not shut again. It was this lapse that allowed the school van to attempt crossing the tracks, right into the path of the oncoming train. The key question now being asked is why the gate was not closed again before the second train arrived.
Eight People Were Travelling in the Van, Three Died on the Spot
The van involved in the crash was carrying eight people in total. The impact of the collision was so severe that three of them died at the scene. As soon as the accident happened, local residents rushed to help and pulled the trapped schoolchildren out of the van. The injured were then rushed to Karnasubarna Block Hospital. Those whose condition is more serious are being referred to Murshidabad Medical College for further treatment.
Anger in the Area as Investigation Continues
The accident has triggered anger among residents over the safety arrangements at the railway crossing, with locals saying past lapses at the Govindpur gate had gone unaddressed. Investigators are now working to determine exactly who was responsible for failing to close the gate before the second train arrived.
