India's Railway Safety Overhaul: Addressing Level Crossing Accidents

In India, three train accidents at manned level crossings occurred over three years, with a tragic collision in Tamil Nadu causing three student deaths. The railway minister discussed compensation, safety measures like interlocking gates, and constructing infrastructure to prevent future incidents, highlighting ongoing improvements in railway safety.

In the past three years, India has reported three train accidents at manned level crossing gates, according to the railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha. The latest incident involved a tragic collision between a train and a school bus in Tamil Nadu, which claimed the lives of three students.

The accident at the non-interlocked manned level crossing gate on July 8, 2025, has prompted a thorough inquiry. Compensation totaling Rs 16 lakh has been disbursed to affected families over recent years, with Rs 11 lakh allocated for this specific incident.

Minister Vaishnaw highlighted the railways' efforts to install safety mechanisms, including interlocking gates, to prevent such tragedies. Ongoing projects include road-over-bridges and under-bridges to replace level crossings, with a significant budget allocated to improve infrastructure and reduce accidents in the future.

(With inputs from agencies.)