Panic in Gilgil as Train Smashes Into School Bus Carrying Pupils in Nakuru
A major rescue operation was launched in Gilgil, Nakuru County, on Friday morning after a train violently collided with a school bus carrying pupils along the busy Gilgil–Nyahururu road.
The bus, reportedly belonging to Teresia School, was ferrying learners to school when the shocking accident occurred at a railway crossing in the Gilgil area, sparking panic among residents and motorists.
According to preliminary reports, the speeding train rammed into the bus before dragging it for several metres, leaving terrified pupils trapped inside as screams filled the air.
Witnesses said residents rushed to the scene moments after the collision in a desperate attempt to rescue the children before emergency responders arrived.
“It was horrifying. People were screaming and trying to remove the children from the bus before the train could cause more damage,” one eyewitness said.
Police officers, emergency teams, and medical personnel were quickly deployed to the scene to coordinate rescue efforts and provide first aid to the injured.
Fortunately, no fatalities were immediately reported, although several pupils are said to have sustained injuries during the terrifying ordeal. The injured were attended to at the scene before some were taken for further medical assessment.
Authorities have since launched investigations into the incident, with detectives expected to establish whether the driver followed railway crossing safety procedures before attempting to cross the tracks.
The crash caused heavy traffic disruption along the Gilgil–Nyahururu highway as rescue operations and clearance efforts continued throughout the morning.
Images and videos circulating online showed the badly damaged school bus lying near the railway crossing as anxious residents and security officers surrounded the scene.
The incident has once again raised concerns over safety at railway crossings in Nakuru County, where similar tragedies have occurred in the past.
In August last year, eight people were killed after a train crashed into a Kenya Pipeline Company bus near the Morendat Training and Conference Centre in Naivasha.
According to a police report at the time, the KPC bus was ferrying employees from the facility after a morning shift when the driver attempted to cross the railway line moments before the train struck.
Following Friday’s accident, Kenya Railways renewed calls for motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution near railway crossings.
“Motorists and the general public are advised to take caution when crossing the railway line at level crossings to avoid collisions with approaching trains,” the corporation warned.
Investigators are now expected to review the circumstances surrounding the Gilgil crash as parents and residents demand stricter safety measures to prevent another disaster involving school children.
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