Murshidabad train tragedy: Negligent gateman deserves capital punishment, says CM
Times of India | 24 July 2026
Bahrampur: CM Suvendu Adhikari was in Murshidabad on Thursday for the second time this week to console families of the five children who died after a train hit a pool car, killing them on July 17. Upon meeting the bereaved, the CM said that the railway gateman whose alleged negligence led to the accident deserves capital punishment.
“The gateman will receive the most severe punishment. The offence cannot be forgiven. I have asked police to complete the investigation while he is in judicial custody and file a charge sheet. Such an offence deserves capital punishment,” the CM said.
He added that what pained him most was that the accident “could have been avoided.” “Prima facie, both railways and police have found gross negligence by the gateman. We tried our best to save the lives of the injured. Unfortunately, we couldn’t save them all,” he said.
The CM handed over Rs 5 lakh each to bereaved families and promised that one member of each family would get a govt job. “I am with the grieving families. Money cannot compensate for such losses. It’s the responsibility of the govt,” he said.
On July 17, a railway crossing gate in Karnasubarna was closed to allow an upline train to pass. The gateman opened the door too soon, resulting in the Nimtita-Katwa passenger train coming on the adjacent track to hit a car carrying schoolchildren and a cyclist.
Ajija Khatun, mother of Ishanur who died in the accident, said, “My husband Afjanur Rahaman stays in Saudi and we lost our only son. The CM has promised a civic volunteer’s job within 15 days. The administration has already collected our documents.”
Meanwhile, following the accident, authorities in the railways have started a survey to transform non-interlocked rail gates into interlocked gates.