In a heart-wrenching incident on Tuesday morning, a train collided with a school van near Chemmankuppam in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Cuddalore district, killing three children and injuring at least ten others, including the van driver.
The accident occurred at an unmanned railway crossing as the school van attempted to cross the tracks. A passenger train bound for Chidambaram struck the van, dragging it nearly 50 meters before coming to a halt. The impact severely mangled the vehicle, resulting in the instant death of three young students. Their identities are yet to be confirmed.
Eyewitnesses reported that the van was carrying several schoolchildren along with the driver at the time of the collision. Local residents rushed to the scene following the loud crash and tried to rescue the trapped victims before emergency services arrived.
The injured were taken to Cuddalore Government Hospital, where medical teams are closely monitoring their condition. Authorities fear the death toll could rise due to the severity of the injuries.
Initial reports suggest possible negligence by the van driver. The Railway Protection Force and local administration have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause and establish accountability.
The tragedy has triggered public outrage, with residents demanding urgent safety upgrades at unmanned railway crossings, especially near schools. Officials at the site have promised swift action based on the findings of the probe.
More details are awaited as the investigation unfolds. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Tragic crash at unmanned crossing in Cuddalore kills 3 children, injures 10 in school van accident

Train Hits School Van, 3 Kids Dead in Tamil Nadu

Tragic crash at unmanned crossing in Cuddalore kills 3 children, injures 10 in school van accident

July 8, 2025 | 15:53 IST