An attempt made by a railway gatekeeper at Gopurarajapuram near Papanasam in Thanjavur district to save another person from being run over by a train on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) night, cost his life.

Inquiries reveal that the gatekeeper, Rahul Kumar (30) of Keerthai hamlet, Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, posted for duty at the level crossing (LC) gate at Gopurarajapuram, saw a person heading towards the railway track while the Nagarcoil-Tambaram Antyodaya train was fast approaching the LC at around 11-45 p.m. on August 12.

Immediately, he ran towards the person and attempted to pull that person to safety. However, in the process, he too was hit by the speeding train and lost his life. The identity of the person whom the railway gatekeeper attempted to save but killed in the accident, was yet to be identified, according to official sources.