Nine students injured as van topples on railway track near Vridhachalam

CUDDALORE: Nine school students sustained injuries when a van in which they were travelling toppled on the railway track while crossing a level crossing near Vridhachalam in Cuddalore district on Monday morning.Police stated that nine students and two others were proceeding in the van to a private school at Vridhachalam on Monday morning. When they crossed Ko Puvanur village around 8am, the railway gate at the level crossing was open as no train was approaching. The van driver, identified as S Sekar, 45, of Vijayamanagaram proceeded to cross the railway track. He lost control of the vehicle, which hit the iron pole near the railway track and overturned.The students and two others sustained injuries. They cried for help, and the villagers rushed to the spot, rescued the injured students and others, and rushed them to Vridhachalam Govt General Hospital. Doctors said the students and two others sustained minor injuries. There was no threat to their lives.

A release from Southern Railway said the van driver had driven the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner while crossing the level crossing at Ko Puvanur between Ulundurpet and Vriddhachalam stations and lost control of the vehicle.

“The negligent act of the driver resulted in the mishap, and minor injuries were reported among the students, and they were provided immediate medical assistance. A criminal case has been registered against the driver by the Railway Protection Force and the govt railway police.

He is likely to be arrested,” said the release.The release said the level crossing was manned, interlocked and protected with signals. At the time of the incident, the line crossing was opened to road traffic in accordance with the gate working rules.

Train services were not affected due to the accident. There was no damage to interlocking equipment or railway assets. Only a portion of the fencing outside the track area was damaged.The road surface between the gates was in good condition and rubberised with no undulations. The gate was provided with speed breakers on both sides with proper warning signage boards. As the level crossing gate was interlocked, signals to trains can become green only after the gates are closed.Divisional Railway Manager (Trichy) Balak Ram Negi, along with officials, visited the site and made preliminary inquiries. Southern Railway appealed to the public, particularly vehicle drivers, to exercise utmost caution while crossing level crossing gates. The safety of the public was always the topmost priority of Indian Railways, said the release. It may be recalled that three school students were killed, and three others, including a student, were injured when a speeding train hit their school van at a railway level crossing at Semmamkuppam in Cuddalore district on July 8.