Over six feared dead in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur as goods train collides with passenger train

A major train accident was reported in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, on Tuesday afternoon when a passenger MEMU train collided head-on with a goods train near the Lalkhadan area under the Bilaspur Railway Division. The mishap occurred around 4 pm on the Howrah route, leaving several coaches mangled.

Preliminary reports indicate that more than six people are feared dead and several others injured, with some passengers said to be in critical condition. 

The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals, where special emergency wards have been set up in both government and private facilities. Teams of doctors are attending to the victims.

Railway officials said an emergency response team reached the accident site immediately after receiving information. Rescue and relief operations are underway with the help of NDRF and local rescue teams. 

The Railways has also released helpline numbers to assist families seeking information about their loved ones.

Train services on this route have been suspended, while several express and passenger trains have been either diverted or canceled. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the impact was so severe that the front section of the passenger train was completely crushed. 

Passengers, including women from the ladies’ compartment, are being safely evacuated.

The exact cause of the collision remains unclear. The Railways has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident.