Chennai, July 8 (UNI) Three students were killed and two others injured when the school
van in which they were going to school was hit by a speeding passenger train at a Railway
level crossing in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu today.
The gatekeeper was arrested and the Southern Railway authorities have taken steps
to terminate him from service.
Two of the deceased students were identified as Nimilesh (12) and Sarumathi (16).
The impact of the collision was such that the school van was blown into pieces.
An ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to the grievously
injured and Rs 50,000 for other injured persons will be disbursed by Railway today.
Southern Railway said today morning at around 07:45 AM, an unfortunate incident has happened
in Alapakkam village of Cuddalore district, when a school van carrying four students, attempted to cross the Railway Level Crossing Gate No. 170 between Cuddalore and Alappakkam stations, but
it dashed with the incoming Train No. 56813 (Villupuram– Mayiladuthurai passenger train).
Tragically, three students expired and one student the van driver have been injured and admitted to the Government Hospital, Cuddalore and JIPMER Pondicherry.
A railway relief train with medical van, as well as ambulance from local hospital reached the
site quickly and shifted the injured to the hospital.
The General Manager/Southern Railway, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM)/TPJ and senior Officers are at site to supervise the rescue and relief measures.
One mast/pole of Overhead electric system also got damaged in the process.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the gate was in closed condition when the van arrived,
However, the van driver insisted to allow the van to cross the gate to avoid the delay in reaching
the school, which was wrongly permitted by the Gatekeeper, violating the rules and 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.
A FIR has been lodged against him for this criminal negligence and the gatekeeper has been arrested.
An underpass is already sanctioned by Southern railway on this LC gate with full Railway
funding, but permission for it was not being given by the District Collector for the last one year.
Railway expresses deep regret for the loss of precious lives and injury to persons, and offers its
apologies for this unfortunate incident.
The Railway doctors are also monitoring the patients admitted into GH as well as the one injured shifted to JIPMER, Puducherry for treatment .
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed deep anguish and shock over
the accident and announced a solatium of Rs five lakh each to the families of the deceased,
Rs one lakh each to those who suffered grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 to those who had simple
injuries.
Mr Stalin also offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and announced
the assistance from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.
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