Cuddalore van-train crash: Injured driver, student allege gate was open, unattended

Hours after three students were killed and several others injured when their school van was struck by a train at Semmankuppam near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, the injured van driver and one of the students have strongly denied the railways’ version of events, alleging that the gatekeeper was not at his post and that the gate was open when the van crossed.

The tragic accident occurred Tuesday morning when a school van carrying five students and the driver was hit by the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger train. The vehicle was dragged for nearly 50 metres, killing three students and injuring others who were rushed to the Cuddalore Government Hospital.

In a statement, the Railways said, “Preliminary inquiry reveals that while gatekeeper proceeds to close the gate , the van driver insisted to allow the Van to cross the gate which should have not permitted.” However, both the injured driver and a student contradicted this version.

Shankar, the van driver, said: “I didn’t speak to him as he was not at the spot. The gate was open, there was no signal. It is the routine route.”

Vishwesh, an injured student, added: “The gate was open, there was no signal. We thought the train would have already crossed and so we left. My classmate, his sister and my brother were also there. The van driver didn’t ask to open the gate. That is a lie. He (the gatekeeper) was sitting there and didn’t even come out after the vehicle was hit.”

Local residents had discovered the bodies of two students on the tracks and informed the authorities, while a third succumbed at the hospital.

Officials from the Railways and police have launched a joint investigation into the accident, which occurred at a manned but non-interlocked level crossing. The railway sent a relief train with medical staff and equipment to the site and senior officers visited the scene.

- Ends