3 killed as train crashes into school bus at railway crossing in Bengal

Kolkata: Three people, including two school students, were killed after a local train rammed into a school pool car at a railway level crossing in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Friday morning, railway officials said.

The accident occurred around 7 am near Karna Subarna railway station, about 48 km from Katwa, disrupting train services on the Azimganj-Katwa section of Eastern Railway's Howrah division.

According to railway officials, the pool car was carrying children to school when it attempted to cross the tracks.

"The pool car, carrying the students to school, was crossing the rail lines at the level crossing gate near Karna Subarna station, about 48 km from Katwa, when the local train hit the vehicle," an Eastern Railway official said.

Railway authorities said the level crossing gate was reportedly open at the time of the accident.

A 10-member investigation team has been dispatched to determine the cause of the crash.

"A 10-member team has rushed to the place to investigate the cause of the accident," the official told PTI.

The collision also affected rail operations on the Azimganj-Katwa route as authorities worked to clear the tracks and begin the investigation.