Date: 2025-07-17Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported collision of a train with a school van at a level crossing in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, killing three children and injuring several others
**Summary:**
On July 17, 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, took suo motu cognizance of a media report concerning a train collision with a school van at a level crossing in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu on July 8, 2025. The incident resulted in the deaths of three children and injuries to several others. The NHRC has observed that the reported circumstances, specifically the open gate at the level crossing during the train's passage, raise serious concerns regarding human rights violations. In response, the NHRC has issued notices to the Chairman of the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, and the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu, requesting a detailed report within two weeks. This report should include the current health status of those injured. The media report indicates that an underpass, sanctioned by the Southern Railway to replace the level crossing, has been delayed for one year due to pending approval from the District Collector. This information was released by PIB Delhi on July 17, 2025, at 12:04 PM (Release ID: 2145433).
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission NHRC, India: A national human rights organization that took suo motu cognizance of the train accident.
Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu: The district and state where the train accident involving a school van occurred.
Railway Board Chairman: Official to whom notices were issued regarding the train accident.
Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu: Official to whom notices were issued regarding the train accident.
DGP, Tamil Nadu: Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu, to whom notices were issued regarding the train accident.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for railways, to which notices were issued.
Southern Railway: Railway zone that sanctioned an underpass in place of the level crossing.
District Collector: Official responsible for granting permission for the underpass construction.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported collision of a train with a school van at a
level crossing in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu,
killing three children and injuring several others
Reportedly, despite a sanctioned underpass by the
Railways in place of the level crossing, the work yet
to start pending approval by the District authorities
for the last one year
Issues notices to the Railway Board Chairman as
well as the Chief Secretary and DGP, Tamil Nadu,
calling for reports within two weeks
Posted On: 17 JUL 2025 12:04PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that a passenger train collided with a school van at a level crossing in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu,
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killing three children and injuring several others on 8 July, 2025. Reportedly, the gate was open at the level
crossing, and a train was passing through when the incident occurred.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of
human rights. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chairman, Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, as well
as the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, calling for a detailed report on the
matter within two weeks, including the present health status of the persons who sustained injuries in the
incident.
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According to the media report, carried on 9 July, 2025, an underpass has been sanctioned by the Southern
Railway in place of this level crossing, but permission for it has not been given by the District Collector for
the last one year.
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NSK
(Release ID: 2145433)