MIAN CHANNU, Jan 13 : At least 13 people including 12 school going children were killed and 20 others were injured when a train crushed a school van at a railway crossing here on Wednesday.
A school van was passing from a Railway Crossing at around 8:15am when Jaffar Express coming from Quetta hit it, killing at least 12 schoolchildren and driver of the van on the spot.
Local sources said the accident was caused by negligence on part of the van driver as well as the Railway authorities as there were no gates installed at the unnamed railway crossing.
MNA Aslam Bodla from Mian Channu confirmed that eleven children were killed along with the van driver in the accident.
Police said the accident occurred at Musa Virk railway crossing, which killed 13 people and injured 20 others, mostly schoolchildren who were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
Residents of the area held Railway authorities responsible for the incident saying there were at least three railway crossings in Mian Channu only where the railway staffs has not installed any gates, leaving chances of such mishaps in future as well.
The MNA from the region however said it was thick fog which caused the accident as the van and train drivers could not see each other in time due to poor visibility situation.
The Minister however said he has asked the government to install gates at the railway crossings to avoid such incidents in future.
The bodies of five children identified as Safdar, Tanveer, Shahbaz and Faisal were taken to Tehsil Headquarter hospital.
Witnesses said that there were more than 30 children on the bus, which has been turned into wreckage due to the impact of the crash.
DPO Khanewal, Kamran Khan confirmed eight children, including two girls and eight boys, were killed and 12 others were injured in the accident.
He said six children have been shifted to Nistar Hospital Multan due to severe injuries. The DPO said that two children were in critical condition.
He said the accident at the unmanned railway crossing took place due to thick fog that reduced visibility.
When asked, why the crossing was unmanned, he said that the crossings with little traffic pressure are left unmanned.
The official however admitted that this practice have caused similar mishaps in the past as well.
The DPO said that the injured are being provided best possible treatment.
The injured include two girls and six boys. All the children are aged between 8 to12.
According to Deputy DS Pakistan Railway Waqar Rao, the accident took place due to tick fog and unprotected and unmanned railway crossing.
The police and rescue 1122 reached the spot immediately after the accident and started rescue activities.
The rescue teams cut the wreckage of the van to remove trapped kids and bodies with the help of a local welder.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the provincial government will bear all the expenses of the treatment of the injured.
He also announced Rs 200,000 for the families of children killed in the accident and Rs 50,000 for those critically injured.
He said that the reason of accident at the unmanned crossing was thick fog that has engulfed the whole province for the past weeks.
President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered an investigation into the accident and directed stern action against those found responsible.
The police have arrested a guard who was supposed to be on duty at the crossing and the train driver. INP
A school van was passing from a Railway Crossing at around 8:15am when Jaffar Express coming from Quetta hit it, killing at least 12 schoolchildren and driver of the van on the spot.
Local sources said the accident was caused by negligence on part of the van driver as well as the Railway authorities as there were no gates installed at the unnamed railway crossing.
MNA Aslam Bodla from Mian Channu confirmed that eleven children were killed along with the van driver in the accident.
Police said the accident occurred at Musa Virk railway crossing, which killed 13 people and injured 20 others, mostly schoolchildren who were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
Residents of the area held Railway authorities responsible for the incident saying there were at least three railway crossings in Mian Channu only where the railway staffs has not installed any gates, leaving chances of such mishaps in future as well.
The MNA from the region however said it was thick fog which caused the accident as the van and train drivers could not see each other in time due to poor visibility situation.
The Minister however said he has asked the government to install gates at the railway crossings to avoid such incidents in future.
The bodies of five children identified as Safdar, Tanveer, Shahbaz and Faisal were taken to Tehsil Headquarter hospital.
Witnesses said that there were more than 30 children on the bus, which has been turned into wreckage due to the impact of the crash.
DPO Khanewal, Kamran Khan confirmed eight children, including two girls and eight boys, were killed and 12 others were injured in the accident.
He said six children have been shifted to Nistar Hospital Multan due to severe injuries. The DPO said that two children were in critical condition.
He said the accident at the unmanned railway crossing took place due to thick fog that reduced visibility.
When asked, why the crossing was unmanned, he said that the crossings with little traffic pressure are left unmanned.
The official however admitted that this practice have caused similar mishaps in the past as well.
The DPO said that the injured are being provided best possible treatment.
The injured include two girls and six boys. All the children are aged between 8 to12.
According to Deputy DS Pakistan Railway Waqar Rao, the accident took place due to tick fog and unprotected and unmanned railway crossing.
The police and rescue 1122 reached the spot immediately after the accident and started rescue activities.
The rescue teams cut the wreckage of the van to remove trapped kids and bodies with the help of a local welder.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the provincial government will bear all the expenses of the treatment of the injured.
He also announced Rs 200,000 for the families of children killed in the accident and Rs 50,000 for those critically injured.
He said that the reason of accident at the unmanned crossing was thick fog that has engulfed the whole province for the past weeks.
President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered an investigation into the accident and directed stern action against those found responsible.
The police have arrested a guard who was supposed to be on duty at the crossing and the train driver. INP
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