Chennai, July 9 -- Three school students died and three others were injured after a passenger train hit a school van while it was crossing a railway level crossing in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, police said. The gatekeeper posted at the level crossing has been suspended and arrested, Southern Railway officials said.

According to officials, the deceased have been identified as a Cass 5 boy (10) T Chezhiyan, his sister, a class 11 student (16), T Charumathy and a class 6 boy (11), V Nimalesh. While Charumathy and Nimalesh died on the spot, Chezhiyan succumbed to injuries at Puducherry JIPMER hospital.

Among those injured are another student travelling in the school van, its driver, and a bystander, who rushed to help but ...