At least eleven people were killed and twenty others injured when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train near Bilaspur station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday afternoon.
The crash, which occurred on the Bilaspur–Katni section, derailed several coaches and damaged overhead wires and signalling systems, disrupting train services on the busy route.
According to officials, a preliminary investigation suggested that the MEMU local train had overshot a signal before ramming into the rear of the goods train. The impact was severe, leading to extensive damage to rolling stock and nearby rail infrastructure.
Railway rescue teams, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), local police, and emergency responders, rushed to the site to carry out relief and evacuation operations.
Medical teams provided first aid and transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Senior railway officials also arrived at the scene to oversee rescue efforts and assess the extent of damage.
Chhattisgarh Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, who reviewed the situation, said, “Five people are seriously injured; three are stable, while two remain critical. Some passengers are still trapped inside the train, and efforts are on to rescue them using cutting equipment.”
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling it “extremely tragic.” In a post on X, he said, “I have spoken to the Bilaspur District Collector and instructed immediate relief and assistance. The state government stands firmly with the affected families.”
The railway administration has announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those killed, Rs 5 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for passengers with minor injuries.
Officials confirmed that a detailed inquiry would be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to ascertain the cause of the accident and recommend safety measures.
The Indian Railways has also released a series of emergency helpline numbers for passengers and relatives seeking information:
Bilaspur: 7777857335, 7869953330
Champa: 8085956528
Raigarh: 9752485600
Pendra Road: 8294730162
Korba: 7869953330
Usalapur: 7777857338
At accident site: 9752485499, 8602007202
Passengers and their families have been urged to contact these numbers for updates and assistance. Officials said efforts were ongoing to clear the track and restore normal train operations as soon as possible.
Railway authorities confirmed that several trains on the Bilaspur–Katni line were either cancelled or diverted following the collision.
Among those affected were Train No. 68746 (Raipur–Gevra Road MEMU), Train No. 12101 (LTT–Shalimar Express), Train No. 12809 (CSMT–Howrah Mail), Train No. 12070 (Gondia–Raigarh Jan Shatabdi Express), Train No. 20826 (Nagpur–Bilaspur Express), Train No. 18029 (LTT–Shalimar Express), and Train No. 12129 (Pune–Howrah Express).
Officials said the railway administration continues to monitor the situation closely and ensure that all necessary medical and logistical support is provided to the injured and affected passengers.
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