08-07-2025
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
