| GEO Pakistan | | Mian Channu toll rises to nine | Updated at: 0920 PST, Wednesday, January 13, 2010
 MIAN CHANNU: At least eight children and a driver died when their van was hit by a train at Musa Virk Railway gate in Mian Channu, Geo News reported Wednesday.
Mian Farooq SHO Saddar Mian Channu confirmed that at least eight children died as a result of accident.
There were at least 19 children in the van, he said. The ages of the children were between eight and 10 years, he told adding severe fog engulfed the scene, when the accident occurred.
The driver died on the spot, the SHO added.
According to Geo News, the school van carrying schoolchildren was completely damaged and most of the children are seriously injured.
The Jafferabad Express coming from Quetta hit the school van standing at the Railway Crossing Gate near Musa Virk at 815am.
According to an eyewitness, the injured have been rushed to nearby hospital. The hospital sources told that most of the children are in dire condition.
According to Railway sources, there was no gate at the Railways crossing. Some other source said the fog also was the cause of the accident.
The bodies of five children were taken to Tehsil Headquarter. The deceased included Safdar, Tanveer, Shahbaz and Faisal.
The parents of most children arrived at the hospital, the SHO Farooq said. The SHO also attributed the cause of accident to thick fog at the scene. |  |
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