Kushinagar: 13 kids killed as driver wearing earphones rams van into moving train

Kushinagar: The incident also injured the driver, who as per sources drove on the track in spite of warning about the train. The driver is battling for his life

Onlookers gather around the mangled remains of a school bus after it was hit by a train in Kushinagar district in India's Uttar Pradesh state on April 26, 2018. At least 13 children were killed and five critically injured April 26 after a train smashed into a small school bus in northern India, an official said. / AFP PHOTO / -

Kushinagar, UP: In a tragic incident, a 13 school children and 1 driver got killed, as a train hit a school van on early Thursday morning. The incident also left 8 people injured. As per sources, the van was heading to school with 13 children and crossing a railway track; when suddenly a fast moving train crossed the track; leaving the van in a very bad state and killing the young children and their driver. The families of the students were informed immediately after the incident. Soon after the incident, CM Yogi Adityanath reached Kushinagar district hospital to meet the injured students and enquire about their health.

UP CM @myogiadityanath visits hospital in #Kushinagar to meet the schoolchildren injured in train-van collision this morning. pic.twitter.com/uV8ARnZBYW

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 26, 2018

As per sources, the driver had worn earphones while driving the bus, which led to the massive accident as he could not hear the sound of the approaching train.

Here are the Supreme Court's Guidelines for School Bus Safety#Schoolbus #safety #schoolkids pic.twitter.com/uzksLElbMT

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 26, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the accident and assured that the Uttar Pradesh government and Railway department will take appropriate action on it. "I am extremely saddened on hearing about the death of school students in a collision between a school van and a train in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar. The Uttar Pradesh government and railway dept will take appropriate action," Modi said while interacting with the Karnataka faction through the NaMo App. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also took to his twitter account and expressed grief over the incident. He also condoled the families of the victims.

Extremely saddened by the death of school children in a bus-train collision in Uttar Pradesh, today. Heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. #ScoolbusAccident pic.twitter.com/fTAPf8tOaz

— VicePresidentOfIndia (@VPSecretariat) April 26, 2018

In a similar incident, a school bus collided with a truck in Delhi's Keshavpuram. The incident left 11 children injured. The cops reached the location and rushed all the injured students to a nearby hospital. The incident claimed the life of a 7-year-old girl, who succumbed to injuries in hospital. Two children are said to have suffered serious injuries.

#UPDATE: 7-year-old girl dies, she was injured because of collision between a school van and a tempo this morning, near Kanhaiya Nagar metro station.

— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2018

More details on the same are awaited.