Tuesday, March 29 2005 19:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The Shankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt, Jayendra Saraswathi, had a brush with death, when his van crossed an unmanned level crossing near Arni, just a 'few seconds' before a passenger train passed on the track.

The Southern Railway has instituted an 'internal probe' into the incident which occurred last night (March 28, 2005) near Arni in Tiruvannamalai District of Tamil Nadu, Railway and Police sources said in Chennai today (March 29).

The incident occurred around 19.30 hrs (IST) last night when the vehicle carrying the Seer went through the unmanned level crossing at Pinvalathur in Arni taluk.

The Vellore-Villupuram passenger train passed on the track, just 15-20 seconds after the Seer's vehicle had crossed.

Jayendra was in Arni area visiting various temples and performing poojas.