A deadly train crash on Tuesday sent shockwaves across Chhattisgarh. At least four people lost their lives and two others went missing after a MEMU passenger train smashing into a stationary freight train near Bilaspur station.
The crash happened 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 four deaths and reported that a police officer at the site was still working to free two passengers trapped under a twisted coach as heavy hydraulic cutters whirred.
More than a dozen people were injured, with reports of fractures and severe trauma. “We lost four precious lives. Rescue teams are using every resource to free the trapped passengers, but we cannot say anything about them as of now,” Agarwal said amid the chaotic scene in Lal Khadan, where locals and onlookers swelled into a massive crowd.
The MEMU service number 68733 was traveling from Gevra Road to Bilaspur when it slammed into the rear of a freight train just outside the station. The impact was so forceful that the leading coach of the passenger train leapt onto the freights, causing extensive damage and sparking panic among passengers. Eyewitness videos that have circulated online show the passenger coach perched atop the freight wagons, underscoring the severity of the collision.
SECR officials, including General Manager Tarun Prakash and Divisional Railway Manager Rajmal Khoiwal, rushed to the wreck to oversee rescue and relief operations. Medical teams and ambulances quickly reached the scene, transporting injured passengers to nearby hospitals for treatment. The SECR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) said two people were officially confirmed injured, though local reports suggest the death toll may rise as rescue work continues.
Investigators say the accident remains under investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that both trains ended up on the same track, but it is unclear whether a signalling failure or human error caused the collision. A high‑level inquiry has been ordered to trace the exact sequence of events.
Train services on the affected route have been suspended or diverted. The railway has issued helpline numbers for families seeking updates about loved ones, and compensation for victims is expected after initial assessments are complete.
The crash has drawn a large crowd to the site, with local authorities working alongside railway personnel to control the situation and keep onlookers safe. As the nation mourns yet another rail tragedy, questions are being raised about safety protocols and the condition of infrastructure in India’s busiest railway zones.
Source: ianslive
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