Cuddalore Accident: Southern Railway blames van driver, suspends gatekeeper

Chennai: Blaming the driver of a school van for leaving the level crossing gate open at Semmankuppam near Cuddalore, which led to the death of at least two school children, Southern Railway has informed that the gate keeper of the manned unmanned level crossing has been suspended for violating safety rules. The process of dismissing him from service has been initiated. In an updated clarification statement issued at 10.25 am on Tuesday, SR headquarters said, “The gatekeeper opened the gate due to the insistence of the van driver to open the gate to reach the school early. As per safety rules of railway train operations, he should not have opened the gate.

Since the gatekeeper violated the safety rules, he has now been suspended.” “The process of dismissal from service has been initiated as per the existing procedure,” the statement said. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives and the injured, Southern Railway announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given by the railways to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to the next of kin of the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to the other injured. Railway doctors are also monitoring the patients admitted in the GH and if required they will be shifted to JIPMER, Puducherry for treatment, the SR statement said.