FIR against driver, school

Four officials faced suspension and a case registered against the driver whose van was hit by a train at a railway crossing in Kushinagar, leading to the death of 13 schoolchildren.

Police have registered a case against van driver Nayaz Ansari and Kushinagar's Divine Mission School under section section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

Orders were issued to register an FIR against the manager and principal of the school for running it without without valid registration.

Some eyewitnesses told police that Ansari was talking on his mobile phone and refused to stop the van as a train approached the unmanned level crossing.

Certain provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act are also likely to be invoked, DIG (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar told reporters here.

The case against the driver and the school was was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Zaheer, the father of one of the children killed in the accident.

The DIG said the van belonged to the school.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed officials to take stringent action in the case.

The state government has also issued directions to suspend Kushinagar's basic education officer Hemant Rao with immediate effect for laxity. Duddahi's block education officer Shesh Bahadur Singh was also suspended.

Two transport department officers also face possible suspension, the government said.