Collision at around 4 p.m. sparks rescue operation and ex-gratia relief; preliminary probe points to signal breach
BILASPUR, Chhattisgarh : A devastating rail accident on Tuesday afternoon claimed the lives of at least eight people and injured dozens after a passenger MEMU train rammed into a stationary goods train near Bilaspur railway station. Officials say the collision occurred at approximately 4 p.m. when the passenger train, running from Gevra in neighbouring Korba district, struck the rear of the freight rake between Gatora and Bilaspur.
According to the district collector, the last bogie of the goods train dashed into the first bogie of the passenger train. Rescue teams found two to three people still trapped under a mangled coach, which required cutting tools for extraction. Some 14 to 17 people are critically injured and receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
The Indian Railways has announced ex-gratia compensation: ₹10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, ₹5 lakh for those seriously injured and ₹1 lakh for passengers with minor injuries. A preliminary assessment suggests the passenger train may have passed a “signal at danger” leading to the collision; a full enquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has been ordered.
The state government said that relief and medical teams have been mobilised and are working under high alert at the site. Many trains on the Bilaspur division have been cancelled or delayed, adding to the disruption.
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