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India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Gatekeeper didn't know Tamil, language barrier led to school van crash: DMK leader
Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan on Tuesday alleged that the fatal school van accident in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, could have been caused by a language barrier, claiming the gatekeeper at the railway crossing 'was not a native Tamil speaker' and this miscommunication may have led to the accident occurred around 7.45 am at Gate Number 170, a manned but non-interlocked level crossing between Cuddalore and Alappakkam. A school van carrying five students and a driver attempted to cross the tracks as the gate was being shut for an oncoming No. 56813, the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger service, struck the van and dragged it nearly 50 metres along the tracks. Locals rushed to the scene, discovering two students dead on the tracks, while another died at the hospital during treatment. The deceased were identified as Nimilesh (12), Charumathi (16), and Chezhian. Others remain critically injured at the Cuddalore Government gatekeeper, identified as Pankaj Sharma, was suspended after the incident and has now been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation. According to preliminary findings, Sharma was in the process of closing the gate when the van driver allegedly insisted on crossing, despite being Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each for the also instructed the Cuddalore District Collector and other officials to ensure quality medical care for the of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami also expressed condolences and called on the government to support the victims' families and ensure Railways dispatched a relief train with medical staff and senior officers, including the Divisional Railway Manager, visited the site. A joint probe by the Railways and local police is under way to determine the circumstances leading to the collision.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Stalin announces aid to families of 2 students killed in school van-train collision
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his condolences to the families of two students who died after a school van was struck by a passenger train at a level crossing in Semmankuppam, Cuddalore district on Tuesday Chief Minister announced Rs 5 lakh each as compensation to the families of the deceased students, identified as Nimilesh, aged 12, and Charumathi, aged 16. He also announced Rs 1 lakh to each of the students currently undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami also expressed his sympathies. In a post on X, he described the incident as 'deeply shocking and painful', and urged the DMK government to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and adequate compensation for the bereaved families. The collision occurred at approximately 7.45 am at Gate Number 170, a manned but non-interlocked level crossing between Cuddalore and Alappakkam. According to the Railway Department, the van carrying schoolchildren attempted to cross the gate as it was being closed. Preliminary findings indicate that the van driver insisted on crossing despite being warned not to do vehicle was hit by Train Number 56813, the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger service, and dragged nearly 50 metres along the track. Residents in the area rushed to the scene and found the bodies of the two children on the railway line. Emergency services were alerted, and injured students were transported to the District Government Hospital in Cuddalore, where several remain in critical Railways dispatched a relief train equipped with a medical unit, and senior officials including the Divisional Railway Manager visited the site. An investigation by officers from the safety, operations and engineering branches is currently under way to ascertain the circumstances that led to the collision.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
