Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) : The death toll in the Bilaspur train accident has risen to 11, with at least 20 others injured after a MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) passenger train collided with a goods train from behind near Bilaspur station on Tuesday evening, officials confirmed on Wednesday morning.
The collision occurred between Gatora and Bilaspur railway stations on the busy Howrah–Mumbai rail route, when the MEMU train, reportedly running at speed, rammed into the stationary goods train. The impact was so severe that the leading coach—an engine-assembled passenger compartment—climbed onto the goods train’s wagon with a deafening crash.
Among the dead are the loco pilot of the MEMU train and several passengers from the front coach. The female assistant loco pilot and 19 other passengers sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Bilaspur.
Ongoing Rescue and Restoration
The South East Central Railway (SECR) has deployed multiple teams for rescue, medical aid, and track clearance. Heavy machinery is being used to separate the tangled coaches, while officials remain in constant touch with hospitals to monitor the condition of the injured.
“Restoration work is underway, and the railway administration is providing all necessary support to the affected passengers and their families,” said an SECR spokesperson.
Injured Passengers
The injured include:
Mathura Bhaskar (55), Chaura Bhaskar (50), Shatrughan (50), Geeta Debnath (30), Mehnish Khan (19), Sanjeev Vishwakarma (35), Soni Yadav (25), Santosh Hansraj (60), Rashmi Raj (34), Rishi Yadav (2), Tularam Agarwal (60), Aradhana Nishad (16), Mohan Sharma (29), Anjula Singh (49), Shanta Devi Gautam (64), Pritam Kumar (18), Shailesh Chandra (49), Ashok Kumar Dixit (54), Neeraj Dewangan (53), and Rajendra Maruti Bisare (60).
Survivors Recall the Horror
For Sanjeev Vishwakarma (35) of Bilha, what began as a routine trip turned into a nightmare.
“I was sitting in the first coach. About 500 metres after leaving Gatora, there was a violent jolt followed by a thunderous crash. The coach climbed onto the goods train. I was pinned under a seat and saw people dying right in front of me,” he said from his hospital bed at CIMS Bilaspur.
Mohan Sharma (29) from Raipur, who had boarded the MEMU from Champa, described the chaos:
“I was thrown to the floor, and my right leg got trapped. When I looked out, the first coach was resting on the wagon. Everything happened in seconds,” he recalled, adding that “had the train slowed down a little, those people might still be alive.”
Mehbish Parveen (19), a B.Sc. Mathematics student returning from a family wedding, suffered a broken leg. “It was supposed to be a happy journey back. Then came the crash. The screams still ring in my ears,” she said.
Geeta Dev Nath (30), an advocate from Bilaspur, said, “The impact was so strong that my leg got trapped. I couldn’t move until rescuers pulled me out. I never imagined I’d return home like this.”
All four survivors are currently being treated at the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) in Bilaspur.
Helpline Numbers
The SECR has released emergency helpline numbers for passengers and their families:
Bilaspur: 7777857335, 7869953330
Champa: 8085956528
Raigarh: 9752485600
Pendra Road: 8294730162
Korba: 7869953330
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the cause of the collision, with preliminary reports suggesting signal or communication failure as possible reasons.
Railway officials said that ex gratia compensation and support will be provided to the families of the deceased and the injured once identification and documentation are complete.
