The horrific accident in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar in which 13 school children were killed when the van they were travelling in was rammed by a speeding train at an unmanned railway crossing on Thursday morning has forced the state administration to take some tough measures.
While the police detained the principal of Divine Public School, where the kids studied, UP CM Yogi Adityanath ordered immediate suspension of Basic Education Officer, Block Education Officers of Kushinagar and Dudhi. The Road Transport Officer, Passenger Tax Officer were also suspended on the CM's order.
Earlier, CM Adityanath visited the accident site at the Dudhi Behpurva crossing, some 100 km from his home constituency Gorakhpur. The CM, who visited the injured at the district hospital, told reporters that initial investigations pointed out that the driver of the school van had plugged in earphones.
"He is said to have earphones on...all the facts will be known in the inquiry headed by the Commissioner Gorakhpur," Adityanath said, adding that the state government will take strict action against all those found responsible for the laxity.
Expressing grief over the incident, the UP CM announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the victim.
Railways orders probe, announce compensation
Describing the accident as unfortunate, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. Goyal said senior Railway officials have been asked to probe the incident.
"I received the unfortunate news of the death of school children. I have asked senior officials to conduct a probe into the incident. Railways will give a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the dead over and above the aid announced by the Uttar Pradesh government," Goyal said in a tweet.
Watch: 'Killer' unmanned railway crossings across the country - A fact file
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