Kochi: Three school children were killed and 10 injured when a school van collided at a level cross between Cuddalore and Alappakkam in Cuddalore this morning, media reports said.
The condition of most of the injured is serious.
The train was going from Chennai to Chidambaram when it collided with the van of a private CBSE school crossing the non-interlocked manned gate number 170.
The van belonging to a private CBSE school was crossing the Railway Level Crossing Gate No. 170, between Cuddalore and Alappakkam, when it was hit by Train No 56813 Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger.
Preliminary inquiries put the blame on the van driver while eyewitnesses blamed it on the gatekeeper who was allegedly inebriated and was dozing when the incident happened.
The irate crowd also thrashed the gatekeeper following the incident. Committee of officers from the Safety, Operation and Engineering branch are investigating the incident.
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