RLY'S CLAIM 'OPEN' LIE: SURVIVORS

THE driver of the school van, C Sankar (47), and the student V Viswesh (16), who survived the train-school van accident at the manned level crossing in Semmankuppam on Tuesday morning, denied Southern Railway's claim that the gate, which was closed for the train to pass, was opened on his insistence.

- BAGALAVAN PERIER @Cuddalore

Many residents also denied SR's "preliminary report," which said Sankar insisted the gate be opened to reach the school on time.

Both Sankar and Viswesh, undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Cuddalore, told the gate was wide open and the gatekeeper, Pankaj Sharma, was nowhere to be seen when the van was crossing the gate.

"The gate was already open. There was no signal or sound indicating that the train was coming," said Sankar.

A villager, requesting anonymity, said, "The gate was remaining open, and we didn't see him (Sharma) outside." The villagers said even the passengers and the railway employees in the train that came to a halt were seen scolding Sharma for leaving the gate open.