Chhattisgarh train collision: Crew failed to control passenger train at red signal, says initial probe report.The report said that the crew of train number 68733 was responsible for not controlling the train at the right time and in the right position before the danger signal and committing an Signal Passed at Danger violation.

NDRF, police, and local administration carry out a rescue operation at the site of the train accident in Bilaspur on November 4, 2025. The crew of a passenger train that collided with a stationary freight train in failed to control it at a red signal, according to the findings of a preliminary probe into the incident conducted by railway experts.

Police file FIR in Bilaspur train crash police say initial findings by Railways, which suggest that the passenger train’s crew failed to control the train at a red signal, will be part of their probe; Commissioner of Railway Safety to begin investigation, says government

Police on Wednesday (November 5, 2025) registered a case of death by negligence and other offences against unknown persons in connection with Tuesday’s (November 4, 2025) train accident in Bilaspur in which a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train. Eleven people have died in the accident, the Railways said. Casualties and Injuries

The impact was so severe that a coach of the passenger train was found on top of a wagon of the goods train. 

Deaths: The accident resulted in at least 11 deaths, including the loco pilot of the passenger train.

Injuries: Around 20 people were injured in the collision. Day after Bilaspur train crash, police file FIR against unidentified Persons eleven persons, including six women, were killed and 20 others injured when a MEMU (mainline electric multiple unit) passenger train hit a stationary goods train from behind after allegedly overshooting a red signal near Bilaspur station. Rescue operations underway at Lal Khadan Torva Fatak after a MEMU local train collided with a stationary goods train between Gatora and Bilaspur stations.

An FIR for causing death by negligence and endangering life of others has been registered against unidentified persons in connection with the train accident in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district in which 11 people were killed and 20 injured, an official said on Wednesday.

The case was registered at the Torwa police station based on a memo received from a Railway official, said Abhay Singh Bais, Station House Officer (SHO), Torwa. Sections 106 (1) (causing death by negligence), 125(A) (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BSN) and relevant sections of the Railways Act have been invoked in the case, he said, adding further probe was underway. Crew failed to control passenger train at red signal: Initial probe into Chhattisgarh collision

The impact was so severe that the brake van of the goods train capsized completely and half of the motor coach (locomotive) of the passenger train climbed onto the wagon next to the brake van The crew of a passenger train that collided with a stationary freight train in Chhattisgarh failed to control it at a red signal, according to the findings of a preliminary probe into the incident conducted by railway experts.

The local MEMU (mainline electric multiple unit) passenger train rammed into a stationary goods train in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday, killing 11 people, including the loco pilot, and injuring several others. Crew of train no. 68733 (MEMU Local) failed to control the train at danger signal no AJ-5 and collided with the rear brake van (last coach) of train no. N/MDIT (goods train),” the initial probe report said.

It added that the crew of train number 68733 was responsible for not controlling the train at the right time and right position before the danger signal, and committing an SPAD (Signal Passed at Danger) violation — an instance of overshooting a red signal.

Chhattisgarh: Train hit parked cargo rake after signal breach, death roll rises to 11.The railway authorities announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to kin of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to the seriously injured persons, while those who sustained minor injuries will receive Rs 1 lakh assistance People gather after a passenger train collided with a goods train near Bilaspur railway station, Chhattisgarh, Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The death toll in the collision of a passenger train with a goods train near Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh has gone up to 11, officials said on Wednesday.

Rescue personnel had to toil for hours, cutting through the mangled coach of the passenger train, as several bodies were badly trapped in the wreckage, a railway official said. The incident occurred around 4 pm on Tuesday when the MEMU (mainline electric multiple unit) passenger train was heading to Bilaspur from Gevra (in neighbouring Korba district).

The affected line was restored on Wednesday morning, the officials said. The injured passengers have been shifted to Apollo Hospital and Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) in Bilaspur.

Of the 11 deceased, five have been identified as passenger train local pilot Vidya Sagar (53), Lovkush Shukla (41), Ranjeet Prabhakar (in his early 40s), Shila Yadav (25) and Priya Chandra (21), the officials said.

Four women and two men among the deceased are yet to be identified, they said.

The 20 injured include nine women and a 2-year-old boy. Assistant loco pilot of the passenger train, Rashmi Raj (34), train manager (guard) Ashok Kumar Dixit (54), and guard of the goods train Shailesh Chadra (49) were among those hospitalised, according to the officials.

Those injured in the incident have been provided with an ex gratia of Rs 50,000 each as an advance relief amount, an official statement said.

The railway administration maintained continuous contact with hospitals and ensured medical treatment, transportation, and necessary support for each affected person, it said.

Senior railway officials were monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps to ensure the speedy recovery of the injured, it added.

“The passenger train hit the stationary goods train from behind at a speed of 60 to 70 kmph after overshooting a red signal,” a senior railway official said.

“It is now a matter of investigation as to why the loco pilot jumped the red signal and failed to apply the emergency brakes in time, even though the goods train was within visible distance,” the official said.

The passenger train rammed into the brake van with such force that it was badly mangled. After the collision, half motor coach of the passenger train climbed onto the wagon next to the brake van, the official said.

The manager (guard) of the goods train jumped out of the brake van – the last coach of the goods train – at the last moment and sustained minor injuries, the official added.

The railway authorities announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to the seriously injured persons, while those who sustained minor injuries will receive Rs 1 lakh assistance, an official statement said.

A detailed inquiry into the incident will be conducted at the level of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to ascertain the cause and recommend necessary corrective measures, it said.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured persons.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Railway Safety BK Mishra has arrived Bilaspur to investigate the accident which took place on Tuesday, Railway officials added. A passenger train collided with a goods train near the Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh on November 4, 2025, which resulted in a number of casualties and injuries. Eight killed as passenger train rams into goods train near Bilaspur.

Visuals emerging from the crash site showed the coach of the passenger train piling onto the wagon of the goods train Scenes from the train crash accident site in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, on November 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

At least eight persons were killed and around 20 injured after a passenger train rammed into a goods train near the Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday (November 4, 2025), officials said. The Railway Ministry has ordered an inquiry.

Details of the Accident:

• Location: The collision occurred near Lal Khadan, close to the Bilaspur railway station.
• Cause: An initial investigation indicated that the passenger train, a Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU), overshot a red signal and collided with a stationary goods train from behind. The impact was so severe that a coach of the passenger train ended up on top of a wagon of the goods train.
• Casualties: The death toll from the accident rose to 11, with 20 people reported injured. The deceased included the loco pilot of the passenger train, Vidya Sagar.
• Rescue and Relief: Rescue operations were initiated with teams from the railways, district administration, and police. The Indian Railways and the Chhattisgarh state government announced compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured. A detailed inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety was ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident. 

Chhattisgarh train collision: Initial probe finds MEMU Local’s crew jumped red signal. The probe found that the MEMU train with eight coaches had left platform number 2 of the Gevra station at 3:48 pm for the Bilaspur station on the “UP” line. The train then overshot the red signal and collided with the stationary goods train at the next red signal at 3:50 pm.

A passenger train had collided with a stationary freight train in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur on Tuesday. Eleven people were killed, including the loco pilot, and many others were injured in the accident.

Now, a preliminary investigation into the accident has found that the passenger train’s crew had failed to control the train at a red signal. As per the initial probe conducted by a panel of five railway experts, the local MEMU (mainline electric multiple unit) passenger train rammed into the stationary goods train at 3:50 pm in Bilaspur. A news agency report said, referring to the initial findings that the crew of the MEMU Local (train no 68733) did not control the train at danger signal no AJ-5. As a result, the train rammed into the rear brake van (last coach) of train no N/MDIT (goods train).

devastating train collision in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday evening has left at least 11 passengers dead and dozens injured. The accident occurred when the Korba Passenger Train rammed into a stationary goods train near Lal Khadan station on the busy Bilaspur-Katni rail line.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as the impact derailed multiple coaches, trapping passengers inside the mangled compartments. Rescue teams from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and local administration reached the site within minutes and began pulling out victims amid twisted metal and debris. Officials said the collision caused severe damage to overhead electric lines and signalling systems, bringing train operations to a standstill. Several trains on the Bilaspur–Korba route have been cancelled, diverted, or rescheduled, including the Azad Hind Express and Bilaspur-Tata Express. A special medical relief train and heavy cranes were dispatched from Bilaspur and Korba for rescue operations, which continued late into the night. Senior railway officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), camped at the site to oversee the operation.

A high-level inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the collision. Preliminary reports suggest a possible signal failure or coordination lapse between control cabins, though technical experts will confirm the exact sequence of events.

The South East Central Railway (SECR) has set up passenger helplines at Champa, Raigarh, and near the accident site to assist affected families. Officials had said restoration of the damaged tracks and signal systems is being carried out on a war footing.

Union Minister of State for Railways Tokhan Sahu had visited the Bilaspur Railway Hospital to meet the injured and assess rescue operations. “This is a deeply painful incident. The Railway Minister is personally monitoring the situation, and strict action will be taken against those found responsible,” he told reporters.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had expressed deep sorrow and directed district authorities to provide all possible assistance. “Rescue and relief work must continue until the last passenger is safely evacuated,” he said in a statement. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao described the loss of lives as “heartbreaking” and assured that the state government would provide full support for treatment and compensation.

Leader of the Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant had expressed grief on social media, writing: “The news from Bilaspur is distressing. My condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.” Senior Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo demanded the Railway Minister’s resignation, citing moral responsibility. “In the past, leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned after a single accident. Today, repeated tragedies reflect administrative negligence,” he said.

In an official communication, the SECR assured that rescue operations were nearing completion and normal rail services would resume soon. The administration urged passengers to confirm rescheduled timings through helplines before travelling.

Train collision near Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh: Helpline numbers issued.“Train No: 68733 (Gevara Road–Bilaspur) MEMU Local got dashed with a goods train on the Up/line between Gatora–Bilaspur at about 16:00 hours,” the Railways said.

t least four people were killed and several others were injured after a passenger train collided with a goods train near Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, Railway officials said.

According to the South East Central Railways, the Gevara Road–Bilaspur MEMU Local hit a goods train near Bilaspur station at about 4 pm. “Train No: 68733 (Gevara Road–Bilaspur) MEMU Local got dashed with a goods train on the Up/line between Gatora–Bilaspur at about 16:00 hours. 2-3 people were injured,” the Railways said. Several bogies of the train derailed after the incident. Videos circulating on social media showed a bogie of the passenger train on top of the goods train. https://x.com/i/status/1985687283081892162 The Railways said that it has moved all the resources, and that measures are being ensured for the treatment of the injured.

Authorities have also issued helpline numbers for the family members of the passengers: 9752485499 and 8602007202.

For more information, Contact numbers for the Champa Junction (808595652), Raigarh (975248560), and Pendra Road (8294730162) have also been released. Bilaspur train accident: Congress leader calls for railway minister resignation Bilaspur train accident: The incident took place around 4 pm and the railways have moved all the resources to the spot. The Railway PRO said that all measures are being taken for the treatment of the injured.