In an unprecedented tragedy that unfolded in Tamil Nadu, a school bus crossing railway tracks was hit by a train. Two students died in the tragic collision, according to police.
Spine-chilling visuals coming from Sembankuppam, Cuddalore District, revealed a completely battered school bus left behind in the aftermath of the heart-dropping crash Tuesday morning.
“Two students dead, two students and the bus driver injured,” said Cuddalore SP Jayakumar, adding that railway authorities and the State Police were working together for further investigation into the matter.
Another video shared by news agency ANI showed a large gathering of law enforcement authorities huddled together alongside locals watching scenes of restoration work underway at Sembankuppam railway crossing.
Tamil Nadu school bus – train accident: What do we know so far
The mini-school bus reportedly belonged to a private CBSE school. The Tamil Nadu tragedy is said to have taken place as the vehicle was trying to cross the manned Railway Level Crossing Gate No 170. According to a report by The Hindu, the bus came in the path of the passenger Train No 56813 Villupuram – Mayiladuthurai.
Preliminary details from the scene revealed the injured students were taken to the Government Hospital in Cuddalore for medical aid.
Initial stages of the probe reportedly disclosed that the gatekeeper was closing the gate when the bus driver insisted on crossing the gate even though he should have never been permitted to pass through. On the other hand, eyewitnesses shared a different account of the incident altogether, saying that the gatekeeper dozed off, failing to close the gate.
The gatekeeper assigned to the railway crossing location has since been suspended for negligence, as per reports.
Although the initial death toll of the Tamil Nadu accident stood at two, police said the number of fatalities could increase.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | School bus crossing railway tracks hit by train in Sembankuppam, Cuddalore District
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025
Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/uk6vYz6hhf
Tamil Nadu officials speak out
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced ex-gratia compensation for the wounded victims and the family of the deceased students.
“I have ordered that a sum of Rs. 5 lakh each be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the parents of the children who lost their lives in this accident,” he wrote on X. “Furthermore, Rs. 1 lakh each for those severely injured and undergoing treatment, and Rs. 50,000 each for those with minor injuries, have been ordered to be disbursed.”
Meanwhile, Edappadi K Palaniswami, Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, also took to social media to share his condolences to the affected families, while urging the DMK government to take steps necessary to ensure proper treatment for the injured.
கடலூர் செம்மங்குப்பதில் நடந்த விபத்தில், இரண்டு இளம் மாணவர்களின் உயிர்கள் பறிபோன துயரச் செய்தியால் அதிர்ச்சியும் வேதனையும் அடைந்தேன்.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) July 8, 2025
உயிரிழந்த மாணவச் செல்வங்களான நிமிலேஷ் மற்றும் சாருமதி ஆகியோரது பெற்றோருக்கும் – உறவினர்களுக்கும் – நண்பர்களுக்கும் ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலையும் ஆறுதலையும்…
“I express my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the deceased students. I urge this DMK government to take appropriate measures to ensure proper treatment for those who have been seriously injured and admitted to the hospital,” he tweeted. “I pray to the Almighty that all those injured may fully recover. I strongly urge the DMK government to provide appropriate compensation to the families of the deceased.”
கடலூர் மாவட்டம் செம்மங்குப்பம் பகுதியில் பள்ளி வேன் மீது ரயில் மோதி விபத்துக்குள்ளாகியதில் 2 மாணவர்கள் உயிரிழந்ததாக வரும் செய்தி மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியும் வேதனையும் அளிக்கிறது.
— Edappadi K Palaniswami-SayYEStoWomenSafety&AIADMK (@EPSTamilNadu) July 8, 2025
உயிரிழந்த மாணவர்களின் குடும்பத்தாருக்கு எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலையும் வருத்தங்களையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன்,…
More details are awaited.