New Delhi: Unmanned level crossing of the railways continue to be death spots, as six kindergarten children died on Thursday after their van collided with a speeding train in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh.
More than 90 people have lost their lives in the current year following accidents involving trains at manned or unmanned level crossings of the railways.
The mishap took place at around 8 am when the van carrying schoolchildren was hit by train, which was heading to Varanasi from Azamgarh, at Mahaso unmanned crossing in Ranipur area of Mau district.
Five children died on the spot and another child succumbed to injuries later in hospital.
Union railways minister Suresh Prabhu made a statement in the Lok Sabha on the mishap and stated that as many as 17 children were admitted in a hospital.
There were 22 school children in the ill-fated van, the minister informed the House.
“As per the preliminary information received, the incident occur-red due to the negligent driving by the driver. The visibility was also poor due to the foggy weather,” said Mr Prabhu. This it was the major accident involving a train after Mr Prabhu assumed the charge of the Railways.
