Bilaspur Train accident Death Toll: A horrific train accident occurred at around 4 pm on Tuesday afternoon in Lalkhadan area under Bilaspur Railway Division. A coach of a passenger MEMU train running on Howrah route suddenly collided head-on with a goods train. The collision was so severe that several coaches of the MEMU train derailed, creating an atmosphere of chaos at the spot. So far 8 passengers have died in this accident, while dozens of passengers have been seriously injured. Bilaspur DC Sanjay Aggarwal said, “A total of eight people have died in this accident. Two people are still trapped here… 16-17 people are in critical condition. This is a big accident. Everyone is present here and we are doing rescue work…”

CM Sai spoke on video call

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai took cognizance of the Bilaspur train accident from District Collector Sanjay Aggarwal over video call. And tweeted and said, “The news of the train accident near Bilaspur is extremely heartbreaking. After receiving information from the Bilaspur District Collector, instructions have been given to provide all possible help and relief. The state government is with the affected families in this difficult time. Railway and administration teams have immediately started working for relief and rescue operations. All necessary resources and medical assistance are being ensured for the treatment of the injured. The state government is closely monitoring the situation with full vigilance and sensitivity.”

Brake failure or human error?

The investigation team is now trying to find out whether there was a technical glitch or human error behind the signal overshoot. Railway officials say that MEMU trains have modern signaling and braking systems, due to which such mistakes are rare. Nevertheless, the speed of the train at the time of the accident and whether the braking system was working properly are being investigated. “It is too early to say whether it was loco pilot error or system failure. The accident is being analyzed,” an official said.

Chaos after the collision, investigation team active

After the collision, there was chaos in Bilaspur station yard. Relief and rescue teams immediately took charge and evacuated the passengers safely. The death of six passengers and injuries of a dozen have been confirmed. Senior railway officials and technical experts are present at the spot, and a detailed investigation is being conducted into the incident.