Overview

• Investigations by Railway Police, Southern Railway and state police remain active with gatekeeper Pankaj Sharma suspended, arrested and facing criminal negligence charges.
• Railway officials maintain the gate was closed when the van crossed but survivors and eyewitnesses claim it was open and the gatekeeper was asleep.
• Southern Railway and the Tamil Nadu government have disbursed ex-gratia compensation to families of the three deceased students and those injured.
• An underpass sanctioned by Southern Railway more than a year ago still awaits district administrative approval, fueling a blame game between rail and state authorities.
• Consumer advocacy groups and political figures are demanding accelerated installation of interlocking signals and automated gate mechanisms at hazardous level crossings nationwide.