Bengal school bus-train crash: Drunk gateman arrested in Murshidabad
Synopsis
A gateman allegedly drunk on duty failed to lower a level-crossing gate in Murshidabad, West Bengal, letting a school van drive into the path of the Nimtita-Katwa local train. Four people died, including three schoolchildren. Locals say they had repeatedly warned railway authorities about this very gateman — and nobody acted.
Key Takeaways
A school van was struck by the Nimtita-Katwa local train at Karnasubarna , Murshidabad , on 17 July .
Four people died , including three schoolchildren ; four others, including three students, are in critical condition at Baharampur Medical College and Hospital .
The gateman allegedly failed to close the crossing gate despite being informed the train was approaching at high speed.
He was reportedly in an inebriated state during duty — and was visibly so at the time of his arrest.
Local residents allege multiple prior complaints about the same gateman's conduct were filed with railway authorities and went unaddressed.
The Railways suspended the gateman for serious negligence; he was subsequently arrested by police .
A school van carrying children was struck by the Nimtita-Katwa local train at a railway crossing in Karnasubarna, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, on Friday, 17 July, killing four people — including three schoolchildren — after the gateman on duty allegedly failed to close the level-crossing gate while reportedly in an inebriated state. The accused gateman has since been suspended by the Railways and arrested by the police.
How the Accident Unfolded
According to preliminary findings by the police and the Railways department, the gateman was informed that the Nimtita-Katwa local train was approaching at high speed on the down line. Despite the warning, he allegedly did not lower the crossing gate. The van driver, unaware of the oncoming train, attempted to cross the tracks and was struck directly by the locomotive.
Three schoolchildren died at the scene. Four others, including three students, were admitted in critical condition to Baharampur Medical College and Hospital.
Prior Complaints Ignored, Locals Say
Residents of the area alleged that multiple complaints had previously been filed with local railway authorities about the gateman reporting to duty in a drunken state. According to locals, there had been earlier incidents where he failed to reopen the gate after a train had passed, causing prolonged traffic congestion on both sides of the crossing.
'There had been several instances in the past where he forgot to open the rail-gate after the trains had passed, thus creating traffic congestion on both sides of the rail-gate for a prolonged period. Many of us expressed apprehension about such a mishap in case he forgot to close the rail gate. Our apprehension came true this morning, and the mishap happened,' a local resident told media persons after the arrest.
The gateman was reportedly still visibly inebriated at the time of his arrest.
Railways Suspends Gateman, Police Make Arrest
The Railways moved swiftly to suspend the gateman on charges of serious dereliction of duty. The police subsequently arrested him. Whether he was a permanent government employee or an outsourced contractual worker is still being ascertained, according to reports.
Political Response and Calls for Probe
Former Congress Lok Sabha member from Baharampur and former state Congress president in West Bengal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, visited the site shortly after the incident. He called for a thorough investigation into the broader systemic failures.
'This mishap was due to the fault of the gateman. However, infrastructure issues have remained ignored for a long time. Whether the allegations against the gateman are true or not remains to be seen. Whether the gateman was a government employee or outsourced also remains to be seen. Whether there was proper training or not, that also should be probed,' Chowdhury said.
The incident has renewed scrutiny over safety protocols at unmanned and under-monitored level crossings across India's rail network, particularly in districts where staffing and oversight remain inadequate. A fuller investigation by both the Railways and the police is expected to determine accountability beyond the individual gateman.
Point of View
The accountability chain extends well beyond the individual now in custody. India's level-crossing safety record is poor precisely because warnings at the ground level rarely travel up the hierarchy. The Railways' swift suspension looks decisive; the harder question is why prior alerts did not trigger action before four people died.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Murshidabad school van-train accident?
A school van was hit by the Nimtita-Katwa local train at a level crossing in Karnasubarna, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, on 17 July. The gateman on duty allegedly failed to close the crossing gate while in an inebriated state, allowing the van to drive onto the tracks. Four people died, including three schoolchildren.
Who is responsible for the Karnasubarna level-crossing crash?
Preliminary findings by the police and Railways point to the gateman as the primary cause. He allegedly ignored his duty to lower the gate despite being informed the train was approaching. He has been suspended by the Railways and arrested by the police on charges of serious negligence.
How many people were killed or injured in the Bengal train-van collision?
Four people were killed, including three schoolchildren who died at the scene. Four others, including three students, were admitted in critical condition to Baharampur Medical College and Hospital.
Had there been prior warnings about the gateman's conduct?
Yes. Local residents allege that multiple complaints about the gateman being drunk on duty had previously been lodged with railway authorities. They say earlier incidents involved him failing to reopen the gate after trains passed, causing traffic congestion — but no corrective action was reportedly taken.
What has the government or Railways done after the accident?
The Railways immediately suspended the gateman on charges of serious dereliction of duty, and the police subsequently arrested him. Former Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury visited the site and called for a broader probe into infrastructure gaps and whether the gateman received adequate training.
