The Cuddalore train accident points to safety issues at multiple levels-OxBig News Network

The train-school van collision that left three students dead and a couple of others injured near Cuddalore on Tuesday has raised questions that point to safety lapses at multiple levels, railway sources said.

Southern Railway was quick to blame the van driver, saying that the gate was closed, but he “insisted” that the gateman open it. However, Vishwesh, a student who survived the accident with injuries, said the gate was open and there was no conversation between the driver and the gateman. He said the gateman was not to be seen even after the train rammed into the van.

The sources said the possibility of a gateman opening the gate despite an approaching train, conceding the request of a private school van driver, was highly unlikely. It would be easy for investigators to establish whether the gate was open or closed since the process involved an exchange of a secret number between the station master and the gateman.

Exchange of codes

Going by the rule book, the station master in a non-interlocked section would communicate details of an approaching train, besides a private number, to the gateman. The gateman would then close the gate and confirm closure to the station master with another private number, enabling him to allow the train into the block section. The private number would be entered in a register maintained for the purpose.

However, if there is no response to calls from the gateman, the station master would issue a caution order to the loco pilot of the train authorising him to “approach the gate with caution, whistling as frequently as possible”. If the loco pilot does not find the gateman at the gate with hand signal, he/she, along with the train manager, should cross the level crossing after ensuring that it is safe and clear from traffic.

In the Cuddalore accident, the sources said, had the gateman not closed the gate at all, there would have not been any exchange of private number with the station master; hence, the station master would have issued a caution order to the loco pilot. Another possibility was that the gateman conveying a private number to the station master, but not closing the gate. This was a rare occurrence.

There was no response from Southern Railway to a question on the basis of which a formal statement was made that the gate was closed and then opened by the gateman after the van driver “insisted”. Also, there was no reply to questions whether the cabin of the gateman was searched for prohibited items, especially alcohol, and whether any caution order was issued to the loco pilot, and about the number of ambush checks conducted at the level crossing gate by senior officers since January 2024.

The safe passage of trains through the level crossing gates involved mandatory duties on the part of the station master, the loco pilot, the gateman, and the train manager. If the gate is closed, there will be a private number entered in the register of the station master and then an exchange of signals by the loco pilot and the train manager with the gateman. If the gate is not closed, the train will run slowly and even stop before the level crossing before proceeding cautiously after ensuring safety, the sources added.

Probe ordered

Southern Railway has ordered an inquiry by a team of senior officers into the circumstances that led to the accident. The Commissioner of Railway Safety, who comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, would also conduct an independent inquiry, a railway official said.