Jalpaiguri (West Bengal): At least four school children were killed and 68 others injured, many of them seriously, when a school bus was hit by a passenger train at an unmanned level crossing near Banarhat in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district this morning (Apr 27, 2004).

The school bus was rammed by the Siliguri-Alipurduar passenger train, as it tried to cross the level crossing between Banarhat and Keron railway stations, near Red Bank tea estate, about 75 kms from Jalpaiguri, according to police.

The sources said three of the children died on the spot while another succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

The exact number of school children on the bus was not known, but the sources said the bus was packed.

Top district officials, including the district magistrate and the superintendent of police, have rushed to the spot to supervise rescue operations.

North Frontier Railway spokesman at Jalpaiguri also confirmed the four casualties in the accident, but said that the details of the injuries were not yet available.

He said that the accident occurred at 10:20 hrs (IST) when the train left Keron railway station and a private bus carrying school children dashed against it at an unmanned level crossing.

All the top NF Railway officials of the division have rushed to the spot, he said.