Bilaspur Train Crash Tragedy: 11 Dead, What Cause the Incident?

Liputan6.com, Jakarta A tragic incident rocked the Chhattisgarh region of India on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, when a Bilaspur train accident claimed at least 11 lives and injured dozens more.

The tragic incident occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time, involving a collision between a Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) passenger train and a stopped freight train.

The accident occurred between Gatora and Bilaspur stations, near Lal Khadan, approximately 12 kilometers from Bilaspur Railway Station in Chhattisgarh.

The accident immediately drew public and regulatory attention, given its serious impact on railway operations and passenger safety.

Initial suspicions point to the driver of the passenger train violating a red signal, which then collided with the freight train at high speed.

Bilaspur Train Accident 6 dead, many injured after passenger train collides with goods train in ChhattisgarhLike & Retweet: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Should Resign.#TrainAccident | #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/Yhf9J9OinW

— Sumit (@SumitHansd) November 4, 2025

The Bilaspur train accident began when a MEMU passenger train traveling from Gevra to Bilaspur collided with a stopped freight train on the same track.

Initial reports indicate that the passenger train was traveling at a speed of approximately 60-70 km/h when the collision occurred, after allegedly passing a red signal.

The impact of the collision was devastating, causing several passenger train cars to derail and completely destroying the front section.

One passenger car was even seen riding on top of a freight train car, demonstrating the immense force of the impact.

The incident also damaged critical infrastructure such as overhead power lines and the signaling system, which automatically halted all train operations on the route.

The initial investigation focused on why the passenger train driver allegedly passed the red signal and failed to apply emergency braking.

According to a senior railway official, the passenger train was running at 60–70 kmph when it hit the goods train after overshooting a red signal.

“It is under investigation why the loco pilot crossed the red signal and failed to apply the emergency brake in time, even though the goods train was visible,” the official said.

The death toll in the Bilaspur train accident is reported to have reached at least 11, with approximately 20 to 25 others injured, some of whom are in critical condition.

The passenger train driver, Vidya Sagar, died at the scene, while the assistant driver, Rashmi Raj, sustained serious injuries.

The freight train conductor managed to escape by jumping off the train shortly before the collision.

A joint rescue team from the Railways, the local administration, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was immediately deployed to the site to conduct rescue operations.

The rescue operation continued late into the night, using gas cutters to free passengers trapped inside the wrecked carriages.

Medical personnel and ambulances were also on standby, providing first aid on the spot and transporting victims to nearby hospitals.

Some of the injured have been rushed to Apollo Hospital and the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) in Bilaspur for intensive care.

#WATCH Raipur, Chhattisgarh: On the Bilaspur rail accident, Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel says, "The train accident that happened in Bilaspur is very tragic. The government is only busy transporting coal. Because of this, the citizens here are dying. Today, the value of a human… pic.twitter.com/rf1j3CccYZ

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2025

The Indian Ministry of Railways has ordered a thorough investigation into the Bilaspur train accident.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will lead a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident and formulate recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This incident adds to the long list of train accidents in Chhattisgarh, with more than three incidents occurring in 2025 alone, raising serious concerns about public transport safety.

As a token of responsibility, the Railways has announced a compensation scheme for the victims.

Families of those killed will receive ₹10 lakh, those seriously injured ₹5 lakh, and those with minor injuries ₹1 lakh.

In addition, the state government is providing an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to those injured.

The impact of this accident has also affected rail services, particularly on the Mumbai-Howrah route.