Cuddalore School Van-Tragedy: Three Students Killed in Collision with Train, Gatekeeper Held for Lapse

In a tragic incident on the morning of July 8, 2025, three school children lost their lives and two others, including the van driver, were severely injured when a passenger train collided with a school van at a railway crossing in Semmankuppam, Cuddalore district.

The van, transporting students of Krishnaswamy Vidyanikethan, a private CBSE institution, was crossing level crossing gate number 170, an unmanned, non-interlocked gate, situated between Cuddalore and Alappakkam, around 7:45 a.m. when it was struck by the Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai passenger train (No. 56813). Another student sustained injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at Cuddalore Government Hospital.

Eyewitnesses claim the gatekeeper, identified as Pankaj Sharma, was asleep at his post and failed to shut the gate in time. Enraged locals confronted and physically assaulted him in the aftermath. However, initial investigations revealed a different angle, authorities stated that although Sharma was in the process of closing the gate, the van driver allegedly forced his way through, demanding to cross despite the imminent danger.

Authorities have taken Sharma into custody as the investigation continues into the exact cause and sequence of the events leading up to this devastating accident.