Three railway officials suspended in Bihar

Three railway officials were suspended Tuesday for negligence of duty a day after 18 people were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a train at a railway crossing in Bihar, officials said.

Eight children and six women were among those killed in the accident. Two people were also injured, police said.

The Dehradun-bound Muzaffarpur-Rapti-Ganga Express hit the overcrowded vehicle at the manned Samera railway crossing in East Champaran district Monday afternoon.

Divisional Railway Manager (Samastipur) Arun Malik suspended the gateman and assistant station master of Samera railway station and another official for negligence of duty.

"We have taken action against three railway officials, who were found responsible for the accident after the preliminary inquiry into it," Malik said.

He reiterated that the accident was the result of a negligence on the part of the gateman.