Visuals from the site show that the engine and leading coaches are severely mangled due to the impact. Screengrab: ANI
Eight dead, 14 injured as passenger, goods trains collide in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
Eight died and 14 were injured when a passenger train crashed into a goods train near Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, officials said. Rescue work is underway
At least eight people have died after a passenger train collided with a goods train from behind near the Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday (November 4). The incident took place around 4 pm when the MEMU (mainline electric multiple unit) passenger train was heading to Bilaspur from Gevra (in neighbouring Korba district), Railway officials said, adding that the collision occurred when the train was between Gatora and Bilaspur railway stations.
"A total of eight people have lost their lives in this accident. Two people are still stuck here... 16-17 people are in serious condition. This is a big accident. Everyone is present here and we are carrying out rescue operations," Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal told ANI.
What police said
Earlier, Bilaspur Zone IG Sanjeev Shukla “Out of the 15 injured, one is critical at the moment. One passenger is admitted to Apollo Hospital, and three are at the government hospital CIMS, and the rest are at the Railway hospital,” he said earlier in the day.
“The rest are said to be fine with minor injuries. The death toll is likely to be six. As four are confirmed and two more are likely as the gas cutter is being used to detach the pieces for better access,” he added.
"So far, five deaths have been confirmed in the accident. Four others are still trapped inside the wreckage, and efforts are on to evacuate them," Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal told PTI.
The goods train was also moving in the same direction as that of the passenger train, he said.
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Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal told reporters that two others are still trapped and efforts are on to rescue them. The injured passengers have been shifted to Apollo Hospital and Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) hospital in Bilaspur. The condition of one of them is said to be critical, he added. He, however, did not confirm the exact number of the injured persons.
What Deputy CM said
"A very tragic incident has occurred. The goods train was stationary, and a MEMU train collided with it from behind. The engine is in the front coach, and some passengers also sit there. That coach has been damaged. Senior railway officials and state government officers have reached the spot. Relief and rescue operations have begun. The injured are being taken to the hospital," said Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao.
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"The news of the train accident near Bilaspur is extremely heartbreaking. Information has been gathered from the Bilaspur District Collector, and instructions have been issued to provide them with all possible assistance and relief efforts. The state government stands with the affected families during this difficult time. Teams from the railways and administration have immediately sprung into action 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 complete vigilance and sensitivity," he added.
What caused the collision
According to a report in the Hindustan Times, a preliminary investigation has revealed that the accident seems to have taken place due to the passenger train crossing the signal.
Railway authorities said that a detailed probe will be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to ascertain the exact reason behind the accident.
The railway authorities have moved all the resources to the spot, and all measures are being taken to treat the injured persons, they said.
Rescue operations
The visuals show a coach of the passenger train mounted onto a wagon of the goods train, along with the engine and leading coaches severely mangled due to the impact, as rescue personnel look for survivors trapped under the heap of metal.
"Efforts are on to trace those who are unaccounted for through the helpline number. Information is still being compiled as several formalities are underway. Once all details are consolidated, complete information will be shared," said Anurag Singh, Senior DCM in Bilaspur, as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
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The rescue teams comprise railway officials, local administration, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
An infant was safely rescued from the spot, reported NDTV. The report further stated that ambulances have rushed to the spot, and doctors are treating the injured inside the train itself since the wreckage has turned out to be a hurdle in swift evacuation.
In a bid to update family members of the affected and other passengers, the Railways have released helpline numbers. The helpline numbers for Champa Junction, Rajgarh, and Pendra Road are 808595652, 975248560, and 8294730162, respectively. For the accident site, the railways have issued two helpline numbers: 9752485499, 8602007202.
Railway announces Rs 10 lakh compensation
Meanwhile, the railway authorities have 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.
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Relief and rescue operations have been launched on a war footing by the railway administration. Senior officials have rushed to the site to monitor the situation, and the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment, it said.
The railway authorities are providing all possible assistance and coordination to the affected passengers.
Helpline numbers have been issued for the convenience of passengers and their families, it added.
(With agency inputs)