🚨 Tragedy in Cuddalore: School Van Ripped Apart by Train 😢

TL;DR:This morning (July 8, 2025), at around 7:45 am, a private school van carrying five students was struck by the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger train at Level Crossing Gate No. 170 in Semmankuppam, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. Three students lost their lives—Charumathi (16), Chezhian (15), and Nimalesh (12)—while others, including the driver and a local helper, were left injured. Conflicting accounts blame gatekeeper negligence and driver decisions. Railway and state officials are investigating. Compensation has been announced.

😭 What Happened?

• The school van from Krishnaswamy Vidyanikethan School was crossing the railway at a manned—but non‑interlocked—level crossing when the train hit it, dragging it about 50 metres.

• Two died on the spot, and one student passed away at Cuddalore Government Hospital—totaling three young lives lost.

• Injured include the van driver, another student, and a resident helper, Annadurai, who suffered electrocution from a toppled pole during the rescue.

⚠️ Conflicting Stories & Who’s to Blame?

• Railway's claim: Gatekeeper was closing the gate when the driver demanded entry. Gatekeeper gave in, violating protocol.

• Driver & student’s take: Gate was open, no warning signals—driver didn’t hear any horn, so they crossed thinking it was safe until the train suddenly appeared.

• DMK leader TKS Elangovan flagged a language barrier: gatekeeper wasn’t fluent in Tamil, possibly causing miscommunication.

• Gatekeeper Pankaj Sharma has since been suspended and arrested under criminal negligence.

👨‍👩‍👧 Compensation & Relief

• Railway ex-gratia: ₹5 lakh to families of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh to grievously injured, ₹50,000 to others affected.

• CM M.K. Stalin: ₹5 lakh from CM relief fund for each victim’s family; ₹1 lakh for serious injuries, ₹50,000 for minor ones, plus ensured treatment in hospitals.

• Relief included medical support with a dispatched medical train and teams from Southern Railways.

🕵️ Investigation & Needed Fixes

• A joint railways–police investigation with officers from safety, operations, and engineering sectors is underway.

• Local voices demand an underpass—approved for a year but pending due to district collector’s delay.

• Urgent calls for more advanced level crossings and stricter staff checks are growing—common sense demands these at school routes.

✅ What Can Be Done?

1. Upgrade crossings to interlocked or underpasses near educational and commerce zones.

2. Language training for crossing staff to ensure seamless communication.

3. Strict enforcement: no vehicle should cross without signal.

4. Community reporting: teach local villages to report unsafe railway crossings.

💡 MediaFx Opinion

From the people’s perspective, these kids’ loss exposes how profit and speed come before safety. Everyday working families deserve safe commutes for their children, not tragedies caused by system failure. The state must prioritise people over bureaucracy—investing in safe infrastructure, monitoring level crossings, and holding guilty accountable. Only then can our villages breathe peace, and our streets genuinely honour equality and care for all.

Let’s not forget—three innocent souls shouldn’t vanish in silence.

📣 Over to You

Do you think underpasses should be top priority near schools? Have you faced or seen dangerous crossings in your area? Comment below, let’s push for change!

#schoolvan #Cuddalore #railwaysafety #peasantsafety #TamilNadu