The gatekeeper, Pankaj Sharma, was roughed up by some locals following the incident and later taken to the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry under police protection. He has since been suspended and arrested for alleged criminal negligence. Southern Railway has also initiated dismissal proceedings against him.

In response to the tragedy, the Southern Railway announced ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh to those grievously injured, and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries.

“A railway relief train with a medical van, as well as ambulances from local hospitals, reached the site quickly and shifted the injured to hospital. The General Manager of Southern Railway, Divisional Railway Manager (TPJ), and senior officers were at the site to supervise rescue and relief measures,” a statement said. One overhead electric mast was also damaged in the incident.

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