Kushinagar, April 26: Amid protests held in Kushinagar following a deadly accident early this morning, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site of the accident. At least 13 school students died after a collision between a school van and train took place at an unmanned crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar, around 50 km from Gorakhpur.

As per reports, the incident took place around 7 am on Thursday when the van of Divine Public School, carrying nearly 25 students, passed through the crossing and was hit by the train. In the deadly accident, 13 school kids lost their lives while seven are critically injured. The wounded children and staff were taken to a hospital around 30 km from the site.

Talking about the incident, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani said there was a rail mitra (rail volunteer) at the spot, who tried to stop the school van, but the driver did not stop, adding that this is the first accident at an unmanned level crossing this year.

Earlier in the day, President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted expressing grief over the accident.  PM Modi took to Twitter and said, "I am extremely saddened on hearing about the death of 11 school students in a collision between a school van and a train in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar. The Uttar Pradesh government will take appropriate action".

The President said, "Shocked to learn about the horrific accident involving a bus carrying innocent schoolchildren in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families and with those injured".

Meanwhile, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has ordered an inquiry into the Kushinagar train-school van accident and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The minister also said that the Railways will provide an ex gratia amount of Rs 1 lakh for those with serious injuries and Rs 50,000 for those simple injuries.

Goyal said he was deeply anguished and pained by the loss of lives of young school children at an unmanned level crossing (UMLC) in Kushinagar. “My thoughts are with families of the deceased and I pray for the early recovery of the injured. Ministry of Railways will provide an ex gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh for kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those with serious injuries and Rs 50,000 for those with simple injuries,” the railway minister said in the statement.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 26, 2018 12:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).