Tamil Nadu News: 3 School Children Killed As Train Hits School Van In Cuddalore; Gatekeeper Arrested For Negligence (VIDEO)

Chennai: In a heartbreaking incident early Tuesday morning, three schoolchildren were killed and two others, including the driver, were seriously injured when a school van was hit by a passenger train at a manned railway crossing in Semmankuppam village of Cuddalore district.

The accident occurred around 7:45 a.m. at Level Crossing Gate No. 170 between Cuddalore and Alappakkam, when a school van belonging to Krishnaswamy Vidyanikethan, a private CBSE school, attempted to cross the tracks. Train No. 56813, the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger, rammed into the van, which was carrying four students at the time.

According to police, two children were killed on the spot, while a third died on the way to the hospital. The fourth student and the van driver sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the Government Hospital in Cuddalore and JIPMER, Puducherry.

According to railway officials, a relief train with medical personnel and local ambulances responded swiftly, and senior railway officials including the General Manager of Southern Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager from Tiruchirappalli (TPJ) arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations.

The Southern Railway claimed the van driver insisted on being let through to avoid delays in reaching the school. The gatekeeper, identified as Pankaj Sharma, allowed the van to proceed — a move that violated established safety protocols. He was immediately suspended and later arrested for criminal negligence. An FIR has been lodged, and railway officials confirmed that proceedings for his dismissal are underway.

Eyewitnesses, however, presented a conflicting account, alleging that Sharma had dozed off and failed to shut the gate in time, further fuelling public anger. A furious crowd attacked the gatekeeper before the police intervened.

Meanwhile, the Railway blamed the State Government for the incident. In a note, the Southern Railway said an underpass project had already been sanctioned for the location by Southern Railway, but necessary approvals from the District Collector’s office had been pending for over a year.

The Southern Railway announced ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh for the grievously injured, and ₹50,000 for others injured. Separately Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to families of the each of the deceased.

Several trains on the circuit were cancelled and restoration work was underway.