Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur
Raipur, Nov 4: At least four people were killed and two others are missing after a MEMU passenger train traveling from Gevra Road to Bilaspur collided with a stationary freight train near Bilaspur station on Tuesday, officials said. Several passengers also sustained injuries in the accident.
The collision occurred around 4 p.m. on the up line between Gatora and Bilaspur stations in the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone. Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agarwal confirmed the fatalities, while police reported that two passengers remained trapped under debris as rescue teams used hydraulic cutters to extricate them. More than a dozen others suffered injuries ranging from fractures to severe trauma.
Eyewitnesses said the MEMU train, service number 68733, rammed the rear of the freight train near Lal Khand, causing the lead coach to mount the freight wagons. Videos circulating on social media showed the passenger coach perched atop the freight rake, highlighting the force of the collision.
SECR officials, including General Manager Tarun Prakash and Bilaspur Divisional Railway Manager Rajmal Khoiwal, rushed to the site to oversee rescue and relief operations. Injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals, and medical teams and ambulances were deployed swiftly.
The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Preliminary reports suggest both trains were on the same track, though it remains unclear whether the collision was due to signalling failure or human error. A high-level inquiry has been ordered to determine the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
Train services on the route have been suspended or diverted, and railway authorities have issued helpline numbers for families seeking information. Compensation for victims is expected following assessments. Local authorities are working alongside railway personnel to manage the large crowd gathered at the site.
The incident has once again raised concerns about railway safety protocols and infrastructure readiness in one of India’s busiest railway zones.