Three dead, two injured as train rams into school bus in Tamil Nadu; CM MK Stalin announces ex-gratia

In another railway accident, three students were killed in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district on Tuesday morning when a school bus was struck by a train while trying to cross an unmanned railway track. Meanwhile, a Class XII student and the driver on board sustained injuries in the collision.

According to the Southern Railways, the school bus, carrying four students, was crossing the tracks at Railway Level Crossing Gate No. 170—a non-interlocked gate located between Cuddalore and Alappakkam—when the train rammed into it.

"The gatekeeper of Railway Level Crossing Gate No. 170 (a non-interlocked gate) between Cuddalore and Alappakkam has been suspended. He had opened the railway crossing gate at the insistence of the school bus driver," the Southern Railways said.



Following the incident, the gatekeeper responsible for the level crossing was suspended. Railway authorities informed that he had opened the gate at the request of the school bus driver, despite safety protocols. A formal process to remove him from service has been initiated.

The Southern Railway has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those injured.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also expressed condolences over the loss of life.

"I am deeply shocked and pained by the tragic news of the accident in Cuddalore Semmanguppam, where two young students lost their lives," he wrote in a post on social media platform X.


"I have instructed that high-quality medical treatment be provided to the four individuals injured in this accident and receiving treatment at the Cuddalore Government Hospital. Additionally, I have directed the Honorable Minister @MRKPanneer and the District Collector to personally visit and provide assistance," he added.

He also announced that the state government would provide Rs 5 lakh to the families of the two students who died, Rs 1 lakh to those with major injuries, and Rs 50,000 to others with minor injuries from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.