A tragic accident in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district has resulted in the deaths of at least two students and injuries to several others after a school bus collided with a train at a railway crossing. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Semmankuppam, approximately 25 kilometers from Cuddalore, as the children were en route to school. While initial reports suggested three fatalities, official confirmation is still pending.

The accident took place at a non-interlocked railway gate when the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger train struck the school bus. The impact was severe, dragging the bus, which belonged to Krishnaswamy School, roughly 50 meters from the railway tracks.

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the circumstances leading to the collision. Some reports indicate that the railway gate was not closed when the train passed through the crossing. Allegations have also surfaced that locals found the gatekeeper asleep after the accident, suggesting negligence as a potential cause. However, Southern Railway stated that a preliminary inquiry revealed the gatekeeper was in the process of closing the gate, but the van driver insisted on proceeding. The Southern Railway said that this action should not have been permitted.

Cuddalore District Collector Sibi Adithya Senthil Kumar and Superintendent of Police S Jeyakumar have arrived at the scene to investigate the incident. Local residents have alleged that the gatekeeper's negligence in leaving the gates open led the driver to attempt crossing the tracks.

Following the accident, train services between Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai were disrupted. Southern Railway has dispatched a railway relief train with a medical relief van to the site. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) and branch officers are also en route to the location. A committee consisting of officers from the Safety, Operation, and Engineering branches will investigate the incident.