One person died and at least 12 others were injured in the early hours of Wednesday after the bus they were travelling in was hit by a passenger train at a railway level crossing near Saraigarh village in the district.

Divisional railway manager, Samastipur, Arun Malik said the deceased could not be identified because of the person’s burn injuries. Many passengers on the AC bus (on way to Saharsa from Patna) are feared missing as most of them were sleeping when the accident occurred around 3.30am.

On impact of the collision at Saraigarh, around 270km northeast of Patna, the bus was dragged over 200m before catching fire. Malik said prima facie it appears the railway crossing bar was not lowered and the gateman was on duty. “The gateman has been suspended. Only after a probe, the cause of the accident can be revealed,” he added.