Thirteen children were killed and eight were injured when their school van collided with a train in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district on Thursday morning, PTI reported. The incident took place at an unmanned railway crossing around 50 km from Gorakhpur.

A railway spokesperson said that a volunteer deployed at the crossing had tried to stop the van but its driver allegedly ignored him and the whistle of the oncoming Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train.

There were at least 25 passengers, including children below the age of 10, in the vehicle, the spokesperson said. An accident relief medical train was sent from Gorakhpur to the site, he added.

North Eastern Railways Chief Public Relations Officer Sanjay Yadav said that the van driver ignored the volunteer’s warning as he was running late in getting the children to school, the Hindustan Times reported.

Uttar Pradesh Police detained the principal of the Divine Public School, ANI reported.

Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani said the Indian Railways was trying to eliminate unmanned crossings, ANI reported. He said people need to be careful at unmanned railway crossings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Minister Adityanath have expressed their condolences. “I am extremely saddened on hearing about the death of the students in a collision between a school van and a train in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar. The Uttar Pradesh government and railway dept will take appropriate action.”

Adityanath, who visited the site, declared an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the children who died. He also asked local authorities to start an inquiry into the cause of the accident. Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced a separate compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families.

Spoke to Railway minister. Prima facie appears to be mistake of van driver, he had earphones on & there are questions over his age too. There are rules in place, inquiry will be conducted as to why they were not followed. Strict action will be taken: CM on #Kushinagar accident pic.twitter.com/PkQLtX6riy — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 26, 2018

#Kushinagar accident: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visits injured students & victims' families. 13 students have died in the accident, when the vehicle carrying them collided with a train at an unmanned crossing. pic.twitter.com/RnAouz1wgx — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 26, 2018

कुशीनगर में हुए हादसे में स्कूली बच्चों की मृत्यु का दुःखद समाचार मिला, मैंने सीनियर अधिकारियों द्वारा हादसे की इन्क्वायरी के निर्देश दिए हैं, मृतको के परिवार जनों को रेलवे की ओर से दो लाख रुपये की सहायता दी जायेगी जो उप्र सरकार द्वारा दी जा रही दो लाख की राशि के अतिरिक्त होगी। — Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 26, 2018

कुशीनगर जिले में हुए दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण ट्रेन दुर्घटना में स्कूली बच्चों की मृत्यु पर गहरा दुःख पंहुचा। ईश्वर से दिवंगत आत्मा की शांति एवं परिजनों को संबल देने की प्रार्थना करता हूँ। दुर्घटना से प्रभावित लोगों के समुचित इलाज की व्यवस्था कराने व हर सम्भव मदद करने के निर्देश दिए हैं। — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 26, 2018

CM expressed deepest condolences on this very unfortunate incident & directed District Administration to provide all help & medical aid, declared ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs & also directed an inquiry into cause of accident: Statement on Kushinagar accident wherein 11 children died — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 26, 2018