Three school students were killed in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district on Tuesday when the van they were travelling in collided with a passenger train. The gatekeeper posted at the level crossing in question has been suspended and arrested, Southern Railway, which apologised for the “unfortunate incident,” said.

Around 7.45 am, the school van carrying the students attempted to cross the railway level crossing Gate No. 170 (a non-interlocked manned gate) between Cuddalore and Alappakkam and was hit by Train No. 56813 Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai passenger. There were four students and the driver in the vehicle when the incident happened.

“The Railway doctors are monitoring the patients. Ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to kin of deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to kin of grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for other injured persons will be disbursed by the Railway today,” a release said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed profound grief and announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each to the victims’ parents.