Tue Jul 08 15:35:28 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:
**Headline: Independent Inquiry Ordered After Deadly Train-School Van Collision Highlights Safety Lapses**
**CHENNAI, July 8, 2025** – A tragic train-school van collision near Cuddalore on Tuesday, which resulted in the deaths of three students and injuries to others, has triggered an independent inquiry led by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. The accident has also sparked questions about potential safety lapses at multiple levels within the railway system.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the status of the level crossing gate. Southern Railway initially stated the gate was closed but opened at the driver’s request, while a surviving student claims the gate was open and the gateman was absent after the collision.
Railway sources suggest a breach in protocol may have occurred. Standard operating procedures require a secure exchange of private numbers between the station master and gateman to confirm gate closure before a train enters the block section. If no confirmation is received, the loco pilot should be issued a caution order to proceed with extreme caution.
Questions remain unanswered regarding whether the standard protocol was followed. The Southern Railway has not responded to inquiries about whether a caution order was issued to the loco pilot, or why a formal statement was released so quickly after the accident. Also, the lack of search of the gateman’s cabin and the number of ambush checks conducted at the level crossing gate is a concern.
The inquiry will investigate the actions of the station master, loco pilot, gateman, and train manager to determine the cause of the accident and identify any breaches in safety protocols. Southern Railway has also launched its own investigation, separate from the independent inquiry. The findings are expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident and lead to improvements in railway safety procedures.
First Piper 