The devastating train-van collision in Chemmanguppam, Cuddalore, which resulted in the death of three school students last week, has been officially attributed to the negligence of the railway gatekeeper.
A departmental inquiry by Southern Railways has confirmed that the gate at the unmanned railway crossing (LC-170) was left unlocked, directly leading to the tragic accident.
The incident occurred when a passenger train struck a school van. While initial reports and eyewitnesses at the scene had pointed fingers at the gatekeeper for failing to close the gate, railway authorities had initially suggested that the van driver had requested the gate to be opened prematurely.
To ascertain the truth, a three-member investigative team was formed, which issued notices to 13 individuals, including the gatekeeper, Pankaj Sharma, the train’s loco pilot, assistant loco pilot, station managers, engineers, and the injured van driver. The probe commenced on Friday at the Trichy Junction Railway Divisional Office’s security wing.
Preliminary findings from the inquiry shockingly confirmed that gatekeeper Pankaj Sharma had left the Chemmanguppam railway gate open.
Further investigation revealed that Sharma had falsely informed the station master that the gate was closed, only admitting his negligence after the accident. His confession was captured by the railway’s automatic voice recording system, solidifying the investigation’s findings.
The inquiry team is scheduled to visit the accident site to record statements from eyewitnesses before compiling their final report. This confirmation of negligence by the gatekeeper has intensified the scrutiny on railway safety protocols at unmanned crossings.