Project Chintan

Railway Gatekeeper Dies Trying to Save Man from Train in Thanjavur

A railway gatekeeper in Thanjavur district, Rahul Kumar, lost his life while attempting to rescue an unidentified individual from an approaching train. Both individuals were struck by the Nagercoil-Tambaram Antyodaya Express.

· 1 min read
Updated

Key takeaways

  • Railway gatekeeper Rahul Kumar died on August 12, 2026, in Thanjavur district.
  • He was attempting to rescue an unidentified individual from an approaching train.
  • Both the gatekeeper and the individual were struck and killed by the Nagercoil-Tambaram Antyodaya Express.

What Happened

A railway gatekeeper named Rahul Kumar died on Wednesday night, August 12, 2026, while trying to save another person from being hit by a train. The incident occurred at the Gopurarajapuram level crossing near Papanasam in the Thanjavur district.

Kumar, aged 30 and originally from Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh, was on duty when he observed a person walking towards the railway tracks as the Nagercoil-Tambaram Antyodaya Express approached the gate around 11:45 p.m. He ran to pull the individual to safety but both were struck by the train.

According to official sources, the identity of the person Kumar attempted to save, and who also died in the accident, had not yet been determined.

Key Facts

  • Rahul Kumar, a 30-year-old railway gatekeeper, died on August 12, 2026.
  • The incident occurred at the Gopurarajapuram level crossing in Thanjavur district.
  • Kumar was attempting to save an unidentified person from the Nagercoil-Tambaram Antyodaya Express.
  • The unidentified person was also killed in the accident.
  • Kumar was originally from Keerthai hamlet in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh.

Sources reviewed

Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.

Related stories