Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today expressed "profound grief" over the death of children in a mishap at an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased.
Eight children were killed and 14 others injured when the mini-bus was hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing in Auraiye in Uttar Pradesh this morning.
Prabhu also announced the ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured and Rs 20,000 for those who sustained minor injury.
The minibus of Tenderheart School in Ghosiya township, carrying students of six villages in the age group of six to 14 years, was hit by Varanasi-Allahabad passenger train at gate number 26 between Katka and Madhosingh Railway stations, police said.
According to a railway spokesperson, senior railway officials visited the accident spot and the hospital where injured have been admitted.
He said railway doctors were assisting in treating the injured.
