Death Toll Rises to 11 in Chhattisgarh Train Collision

Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), November 5: The death toll in Tuesday’s tragic train collision near Bilaspur railway station has climbed to 11, with 20 others injured, railway officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The accident occurred around 4 p.m. when a MEMU passenger train traveling from Gevra to Bilaspur rammed into a stationary goods train, reportedly after overshooting a red signal. The impact was so severe that one passenger coach mounted a wagon of the goods train, causing extensive damage.

According to officials, the loco pilot of the passenger train, Vidya Sagar, was among those killed, while his assistant, Rashmi Raj, sustained serious injuries. The guard of the goods train escaped with minor injuries after jumping from the brake van moments before the collision.

Rescue operations were launched immediately, and the injured were shifted to Apollo Hospital and Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) in Bilaspur for treatment.

Railway authorities have announced ex-gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased, ₹5 lakh for those seriously injured, and ₹1 lakh for those with minor injuries.

A high-level inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has been ordered to determine the cause of the mishap.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed condolences and announced an additional ₹5 lakh for each victim’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured. (Agencies)