8 killed as train hits school van in India

Indian: Eight students have been killed and several others wounded after a train plunged into a van carrying 20 children to school at a railway crossing in Aurai, Uttar Pradesh northern India on Monday said police.

According to rail officials, about 40 percent of India's train accidents happen at railway crossings in Indian every year.

District police superintendent Arvind Bhushan Pandey said; the van driver who was wearing an earphones seemed not to have heard a gate-man's warning about the on coming train.

"Though the gateman tried to alert the van driver about the train, the driver couldn't hear his warnings because he had an earphone on,"

But no reason has been given as to why the driver was wearing an earphones.

The driver of the van and six children were wounded in the collision at the railway crossing.

Pandey added that all the wounded persons are being treated at a nearby hospital.