Cuddalore accident: Collector did not permit sanctioned underpass at LC 170 for one year, says SR
While political opposition vented its ire at the delay in permitting the underpass, Cuddalore district collector Athitya Senthilkumar offered to review the permission issue and respond subsequently.
People gather near the wreckage of a vehicle after a school van was allegedly hit by a passing train while attempting to cross a railway track (PTI)
CHENNAI: After initially blaming the driver of the school van for the tragic level crossing gate collision that claimed three school students' lives, Southern Railway (SR) has now accused the District Collector of Cuddalore of delaying permission for an underpass sanctioned by it a year ago for constructing it fully at railway expense. However, Southern Railway conceded “criminal negligence” on the part of the gatekeeper, who, it said, should not have opened the gate at the insistence of the van driver.
In its latest statement in connection to the fatal collision, Southern Railway headquarters said, “An underpass is already sanctioned by the railway on this LC gate (level crossing gate number 170 between Cuddalore and Alappakkam stations) with full Railway funding, but permission for it is not being given by the District Collector for the last 1 year. Railway expresses deep regret for the loss of precious lives and injury to persons, and offers its apologies for this unfortunate incident.”
While political opposition vented its ire at the delay in permitting the underpass, Cuddalore district collector Athitya Senthilkumar offered to review the permission issue and respond subsequently.
Gate in closed condition when school van arrived: Railways
Seeking to blame the van driver for the ‘incident’ claiming three lives, the statement said, “Preliminary inquiry reveals that the gate was in closed condition when the Van arrived, however the van driver insisted to allow the Van to cross the gate to avoid the delay in reaching the school, which was wrongly permitted by the Gatekeeper, violating the rules and protocol.”
Conceding that the gatekeeper’s action was a gross violation of rules, the headquarters statement said, “The gatekeeper could not have opened the gate as per the rules. The gatekeeper has been suspended and a process has been initiated for his dismissal from service, and an FIR has been lodged against him for this criminal negligence, and the Gatekeeper has been arrested.”
Senior officers are at the site to supervise the rescue and relief measures. One mast/pole of the overhead electric system also got damaged in the process, SR said. The Railway doctors are also monitoring the patients admitted into GH as well as the ones injured and shifted to JIPMER, Puducherry for treatment.
