Even the supreme sacrifice of 11-year-old N Kandha Kumar, posthumously chosen for the National Bravery Award, has failed to awaken the authorities in Tamil Nadu.
Kandha was run over by a train while trying to save his schoolmates at an unmanned crossing near Amur in Karur district. Even though the accident took place nearly two years ago, the level crossing still has no check gate.
The accident had occurred when Kandha was returning home in his school van on July 22, 2003. The van broke down on the tracks and seeing the train approaching, the driver panicked and fled, leaving seven kids trapped.
The Class VII boy immediately jumped out of the van and rescued two children. But while he was trying to help another of his friends, the train rammed into the van killing Kandha, three children and a helper.
Kandha's father Nayenachalam, a farmer, claimed the train that killed his son was an inspection train.
"I may not be well educated, but after my son's death, I have read extensively on railway safety. I have even submitted requests to the railway and the state government to set up check-gates at all railway crossings," he said.
"I know that my son will never come back, but I will continue to pressurise the authorities to set up railway check-gates," he said.