NATIONAL: Red Signal Breach Led to Chhattisgarh Train Tragedy: 11 Dead, 20 Injured
A routine afternoon ride turned deadly yesterday when a passenger train slammed into a stationary goods train near Bilaspur station in Chhattisgarh.
The collision claimed at least 11 lives and left around 20 others hurt, shaking a key rail corridor that hums with daily commuters.
As rescue teams wrap up, questions linger on how a simple signal oversight spiraled into such loss.
Collision’s Grim Toll
The crash unfolded around 4 p.m. on November 4, 2025, between Gatora and Bilaspur stations.
A MEMU train bound for Bilaspur from Gevra Road in Korba district rear-ended the freight carrier, mangling the lead coach and trapping passengers inside.
By early November 5, officials tallied 11 deaths, including women and children, with 20 injured receiving care at nearby hospitals like Apollo and CIMS.
Rescue crews worked through the night, pulling survivors from twisted metal amid a crowd of worried onlookers.
The impact was fierce: overhead lines snapped, signals failed, and one coach even climbed onto a goods wagon.
Videos from the scene show the chaos, underscoring the human cost of rail vulnerabilities.
Signal Breach Suspected
Early probes point to the passenger train passing a red signal, a basic safeguard that somehow slipped.
Both trains shared the Bilaspur-Katni track, with the goods one halted for routine reasons.
South East Central Railway has launched a high-level inquiry led by a safety commissioner to dig deeper.
This follows a pattern of signal-related mishaps, prompting calls for tech upgrades like automatic blocks.
In the meantime, the route faces chaos: several trains are canceled or rerouted, delaying hundreds on the busy Howrah line.
Swift Aid and Leader Response
Railways pledged Rs 10 lakh per deceased family, Rs 5 lakh for major injuries, and Rs.1 lakh for minor ones.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai added state aid of Rs 5 lakh for kin and Rs 50,000 for the wounded, vowing full medical support.
Deputy CM Arun Sao visited the site, praising quick response teams. Helplines buzzed with queries from frantic relatives.
For those affected:
- Bilaspur: 7777857335, 7869953330
- Korba: 7869953330
- Champa: 8085956528
This tragedy hits hard in a state reliant on rails for coal and travel. It nudges a tougher gaze at safety nets, reminding us that every journey deserves more than hope.