Eight people were killed and several others were injured after a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train near Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday (November 4) evening. Preliminary reports suggest the tragic accident may have been caused due to a “signal passed at danger” (SPAD), a critical error where a train crosses a red signal without authorisation.
The Railway Ministry has ordered a high-level probe under the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to determine the exact cause of the collision and to recommend necessary safety measures to prevent future incidents.
According to the official statement issued by South East Central Railway (SECR), “Preliminary assessment indicates that the reason behind the accident could be signal passed at danger (SPAD). The loco pilot of the passenger train may have missed a signal in the ‘danger’ position.”
The accident occurred around 4 pm when a Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) passenger train from Gevra (Korba district) was approaching Bilaspur station. The train rammed into the rear of a goods train between Gatora and Bilaspur railway stations.
Eyewitnesses and early visuals from the site showed a horrific scene, the first coach of the Korba passenger train had mounted onto a wagon of the goods train, indicating the sheer impact of the collision.
“The section where the accident took place has an automatic signalling system,” top railway sources confirmed, suggesting a possible human or system error behind the SPAD occurrence.
Rescue operations were immediately launched on a war footing. Teams of railway staff, disaster response units, and local administration rushed to the site. The injured passengers were quickly shifted to Bilaspur District Hospital and other nearby medical facilities.
Senior railway officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) and Chief Safety Officer, reached the spot to monitor the situation. Helpline numbers were issued for relatives and passengers to obtain updates.
Helpline Numbers:
Bilaspur: 7777857335, 7869953330
Champa: 8085956528
Raigarh: 9752485600
Pendra Road: 8294730162
Korba: 7869953330
Uslapur: 7777857338
In a statement released late Tuesday, the Ministry of Railways announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 5 lakh to those seriously injured, and ₹1 lakh to passengers who suffered minor injuries.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed condolences to the victims’ families and assured strict accountability after the inquiry. “A detailed investigation will be carried out. Safety remains our top priority,” he said.
The Bilaspur accident adds to the growing list of major railway mishaps reported in 2025, the seventh such incident this year.
As the CRS inquiry proceeds, authorities are expected to focus on whether a technical fault or human error led to this catastrophic failure in communication and control.
