Following the tragic accident in Cuddalore’s Semmanguppam, where a private school van was hit by a passenger train leading to the death of three school children, a new railway gatekeeper from Tamil Nadu has been appointed to the post.
The accident occurred when a school van attempted to cross an unmanned railway gate and was struck by an oncoming passenger train. Although multiple factors are being examined as potential causes, initial reports suggested that the negligence of the then gatekeeper, Pankaj Sharma, contributed significantly to the incident. Locals, enraged by the tragedy, physically assaulted him at the scene.
Pankaj Sharma, who hails from a northern Indian state, reportedly did not understand Tamil, which residents claim led to communication issues and delayed action. He has since been arrested, suspended from duty, and charged under five different sections by the authorities.
In response, Anandaraj, a Tamil Nadu native with two years of experience, has now been appointed as the new gatekeeper for the Semmanguppam area. Railway officials have instructed him to adhere strictly to operational guidelines and remain vigilant at all times.
Meanwhile, the Southern Railway has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe the accident. The committee has begun its preliminary investigation and has summoned 13 individuals, including Pankaj Sharma, school van driver Shankar, and several railway officials, to appear for questioning.
The committee is expected to submit its detailed report soon, aimed at fixing accountability and preventing such tragedies in the future.