Cuddalore train-school van accident exposes serious railway safety failures
The Cuddalore train-school van accident that claimed the lives of three schoolchildren on July 8, 2025, has left the entire state of Tamil Nadu in grief and shock. The tragic incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. at Semmankuppam, near Cuddalore SIPCOT, when a private school van carrying four students attempted to cross a manned railway level crossing gate (No. 170) between Cuddalore and Alappakkam. It was then hit by the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger train (No. 56813), resulting in instant devastation.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | School bus crossing railway tracks hit by train in Sembankuppam, Cuddalore District
Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/uk6vYz6hhf
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025
Cuddalore train-school van accident exposes serious safety lapses
The van, belonging to Krishnaswamy Vidyanikethan, a private CBSE school, was en route with children when the collision happened. Among those in the van, three children died including 15-year-old Chezhiyan, who succumbed to his injuries at JIPMER, Puducherry. Two others, including Class 12 student Vishweshwar and the van driver Sankar, were seriously injured and admitted to Cuddalore Government Hospital. A local resident named Annadurai, who rushed to help, also sustained electrical burns when a live overhead cable snapped during the rescue.
Early reports and eyewitnesses blamed the railway gatekeeper, Pankaj Sharma, for negligence. Allegedly, he had dozed off and failed to close the gate in time, leading to the Cuddalore train-school van accident. The public, angered by the loss of innocent lives, reportedly assaulted him at the site. The Railway Police arrested Sharma, and he was suspended. A case of criminal negligence has been filed.
However, Southern Railway officials stated in their preliminary inquiry that the gatekeeper had initiated the process of closing the gate, but the van driver insisted on crossing, a move that should not have been allowed. A conflicting version from a surviving student claimed that the gate was wide open and no warning signal or train horn was heard before the collision. This discrepancy has led to further questions about the safety mechanism at the non-interlocked manned gate, which lacks automated safeguards.
Compensation announced following Cuddalore train-school van accident
As the news broke, political leaders and the public expressed outrage over preventable deaths. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin extended condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for each deceased student’s family, ₹1 lakh for the seriously injured, and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries from the CM Relief Fund. Southern Railway also announced similar compensation, promising ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh for grievously injured, and ₹50,000 for others hurt.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay, president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), criticized the delay in the construction of an underpass that had been sanctioned earlier. He claimed that the district administration had not approved the plan for over a year, despite repeated requests. AMMK’s T.T.V. Dhinakaran and DMK MP Kanimozhi also highlighted the government’s failure to implement advanced safety features like Kavach, a system that currently covers only a fraction of India’s vast railway network.
Southern Railway’s statement further accused the Cuddalore District Collector of delaying the necessary approval for the underpass project at the same location. They insisted that funding had already been sanctioned but permissions had not come through, leaving the area vulnerable.
கடலூரில் பள்ளி வாகனம் மீது இரயில் மோதிய விபத்தில் இரு குழந்தைகள் உயிரிழந்த செய்தியறிந்து அதிர்ச்சியடைந்தேன்.
இத்துயர்மிகு வேளையில், அக்குடும்பங்களின் கரம்பற்றி எனது ஆறுதலைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன். விபத்தில் காயமடைந்து, சிகிச்சை பெற்றுவரும் குழந்தைகளும் விரைந்து நலம்பெற…— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) July 8, 2025
Delayed underpass project linked to the Cuddalore train-school van accident
The Cuddalore train-school van accident has exposed deep-rooted issues in the coordination between local administration and railway authorities. Despite previous tragedies, level crossings continue to pose a threat to public safety due to outdated infrastructure, insufficient safety measures, and poor enforcement of crossing rules.
Investigations are ongoing, with committees from the safety, operations, and engineering branches tasked with a detailed probe. Meanwhile, families mourn their losses, and the community continues to demand accountability.
Also Read: Shocking Revelations in 44 External Injuries Custodial Death Case Stir Tamil Nadu
Conclusion:
The Cuddalore train-school van accident is a grim reminder of how a single lapse in judgment or a failure in system oversight can claim innocent lives. Whether due to human error, outdated infrastructure, or administrative delays, the lives lost cannot be brought back. What remains is a call for urgent action, stronger coordination, and better implementation of safety protocols. These children deserved a safer journey. It’s now up to the authorities to ensure that such tragedies never repeat.
