Three school children were killed and over 16 others injured when a van carrying them rammed into an engine at an unmanned railway crossing near Haraj village, around 30 km from Ferozepur in Punjab, on Monday.

The injured, four of whom are stated to be critical, have been rushed to a Ludhiana hospital while six have been admitted to a hospital in Moga, police said.

Preliminary reports indicated negligence on part of the school van driver, who is absconding after the mishap. The victims were students of a DAV school in Talwani Bhai village.