NHRC takes Suo Motu cognisance of school van-train collision in Tamil Nadu; seeks detailed reports from railways, state authorities
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognisance of an incident reported from Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, where a passenger train collided with a school van at an unmanned level crossing, leading to the death of three children and injuring several others.
ANI
Jul 17, 2025 13:16 IST
New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognisance of an incident reported from Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, where a passenger train collided with a school van at an unmanned level crossing, leading to the death of three children and injuring several others.
The accident occurred on 8th July 2025 and has brought to light serious concerns regarding railway safety and the alleged administrative delays in addressing known hazards. As per media accounts, the level crossing gate was reportedly open at the time of the incident, even as the train was passing through.
Terming the incident as a potential gross violation of human rights -- particularly the right to life and safety of children -- the Commission has sought accountability from all responsible authorities.
It has issued notices to the Chairman of the Railway Board, the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, and the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, directing them to submit detailed reports within two weeks. These reports are expected to include the current medical condition of the injured children and outline the steps taken to fix responsibility and prevent such tragedies in the future.
The matter is further aggravated by reports that an underpass, meant to replace the level crossing, had already been sanctioned by the Southern Railway. However, the construction has remained pending for over a year due to the lack of necessary clearance from the District Collector's office.
The NHRC has expressed serious concern over this delay in implementing a critical safety measure and underscored the need for urgent and coordinated action between the Railways and local administration.
The Commission reiterated that such loss of innocent lives is unacceptable and preventable. It emphasised that this incident should serve as a wake-up call to expedite infrastructural reforms, particularly at vulnerable locations such as school routes. (ANI)
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