Chennai: Three persons, at least two of them children were killed and four others injured after a train smashed into a school bus that was attempting to cross a railway gate near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred at Semmankuppam, about 25 km from Cuddalore, when the children were on their way to school.
According to officials, the railway gate was not closed when the train passed through the crossing. Some reports allege that locals found the gatekeeper asleep when they confronted him after the accident.
The impact was so severe that the bus, belonging to Krishnaswamy School, was dragged approximately 50 metres from the railway tracks.
It was a non-interlocked gate and the van was hit by the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai Passenger train, officials confirmed.
Southern Railway has suspended the gateman. In a statement, it said that the gateman proceeded to close the gate but the bus driver insisted that he be allowed to pass.
“This should not have been permitted. A committee of officers from Safety, Operation and Engineering branches are investigating the incident,” SR said in a statement.
“Process has been initiated to remove him (the gateman) from service as per the extant procedure,” the statement said, adding that an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the kin of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.
Cuddalore district collector Sibi Adithya Senthil Kumar and superintendent of police S Jeyakumar went to the spot and spoke to local officials. Locals alleged that the gatekeeper’s negligence in leaving the gates open was responsible for the accident, stating that the driver attempted to cross the tracks because the gates were open.
Train services between Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai were disrupted as a result of the accident. SR said a relief train with medical van was dispatched to the site.
