Karur, (Tamil Nadu), March 15 The Southern Railway on Sunday said that the collision between a goods train and a college bus on March 14 was caused by the bus driver attempting to cross an unmanned level crossing, without observing the movement of the oncoming train.
According to an SR press release, 15 people suffered minor injuries and were admitted to a local hospital.
Students from a private engineering college were injured after the bus they were travelling in was hit by a goods train here on March 14 evening.
The crossing, owned and operated by Chettinad Cements, is located between Veerarakkiyam and Palayam near here. It is used for the movement of clinker and limestone by the company.
"The train is being operated by Chettinad Cements for their plant," the release said.
Noting that the cargo trains are operated and maintained by the company on their own line, the release said, "In this network, the Railways has no interface and that the cargo train is operated for day-to-day plant operation."
"The incident occurred when the driver tried to cross the unmanned level crossing without observing the movement of a private cargo train," it said.
The Southern Railway stressed the need for the private cement plant to implement proper safety protocols, similar to those used by the Railways.
"We will extend all possible support in the form of sharing of safety protocols maintained by the railway for public safety," the release added.