3 school kids killed in van-train collision

Three school students were killed in this district on Tuesday when the van they were travelling in collided with a passenger train, even as different versions of the tragic incident surfaced.

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The gatekeeper posted at the level crossing in question has been suspended and arrested, Southern Railway, which apologised for the "unfortunate incident," said.

Around 7.45 am, the school van carrying the students attempted to cross the railway level crossing Gate No. 170 (a non-interlocked manned gate) between Cuddalore and Alappakkam, and was hit by Train No. 56813 Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger, it added.

Due to the impact, the van was flung a distance away from the level crossing. The loco pilot managed to stop the train after traversing some distance, police said. TV visuals showed the mangled remains of the yellow-painted school vehicle.

While the Southern Railway said the level crossing was closed and the van driver insisted it be opened to avoid delay, however, the latter and one of the injured students claimed the gate was open.

"Tragically, 3 students expired and 1 student & driver have been injured and admitted to the Government Hospital, Cuddalore/JIPMER Pondicherry (Puducherry)," a Southern Railway release in Chennai said. One of the injured students succumbed in a hospital.

Among the deceased were a 16-year-old girl of Class XII who died on the spot and her younger brother studying in Plus One who succumbed at the government hospital, police said.

There were four students and the driver in the vehicle when the incident happened. Cuddalore is located about 190 km from Chennai.

According to Southern Railway, preliminary inquiry revealed that the gate was in a "closed condition when the van arrived." "However, the van driver insisted to allow the van to cross the gate to avoid delay in reaching the school, which was wrongly permitted by the gatekeeper, violating the rules & protocol. The gatekeeper could not have opened the gate as per the rules. The gatekeeper has been suspended and process has been initiated for his dismissal from service, and FIR has been lodged against him for this criminal negligence, and the gatekeeper has been arrested," it said in the release.

An underpass is already sanctioned by Southern railway on this LC gate with full Railway funding, but permission for it is not being given by the District Collector for the last one year, it claimed.

Meanwhile, both the injured persons--a class XII student and the driver Shankar, claimed the railway gate was open.