• Source:JND
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Tamil Nadu:  As many as two students were killed and three were injured and rushed to the hospital after a school bus crossing railway tracks was hit by a train. The incident took place in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district, where a school bus attempted to cross Railway Level Crossing Gate No. 170 (a non-interlocked gate) between Cuddalore and Alappakkam and was hit by Train No. 56813 Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger.

A railway relief train with a medical relief van has been dispatched to the site. Two students are dead, two students and the bus driver are injured. The Railway Police, railway authorities and the State Police are conducting further investigation,” Cuddalore SP Jayakumar told ANI.

The authorities have announced to give an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakhs to the kin of the deceased students and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The gatekeeper of the Railway Level Crossing has been suspended, and a process to remove him from service has been initiated.

A committee of officers from Safety, Operations and Engineering are investigating the accident. As per the initial investigation, the gatekeeper proceeded to close the gate, and the van driver insisted on allowing the van to cross the gate, which should not have been permitted.

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According to reports, the bus driver failed to notice the approaching train while attempting to cross the railway track. The train, travelling from Villupuram to Mayiladuthurai, collided with the bus, shattering the vehicle and killing several students. The incident raised concerns over safety in railway operations.

Parents of the injured students reached the site and attacked the gatekeeper, saying he was sleeping while the train approached the school bus. Further investigation is underway.

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