Eight Dead After Passenger Train Crashes into Stationary Freight Train in Chhattisgarh

At least eight people were killed and dozens injured on Tuesday when a passenger train crashed into a stationary goods train near Bilaspur in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, officials said. The collision occurred around 4 p.m. local time as the MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) train was traveling from Gevra to Bilaspur.

Rescue teams, railway officials, and local authorities rushed to the scene, where several passengers were trapped inside mangled coaches. Bilaspur district collector Sanjay Agrawal confirmed the death toll and said 16 to 17 passengers were in critical condition.

“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,” Agrawal told reporters, calling it “a major accident.”

Compensation Announced

Indian Railways announced financial assistance for the victims, offering ₹1 million (about USD 12,000) to the families of those killed, ₹500,000 for the seriously injured, and ₹100,000 for passengers with minor injuries.

Possible Signal Violation

Preliminary findings suggest the passenger train may have overshot a red signal before hitting the freight train from behind.

A Railway Board statement said:

“Passing Signal at Danger by the MEMU train seems to be the reason in the preliminary assessment. A detailed inquiry will be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.”

Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao confirmed that the freight train was stationary at the time of impact, adding that the leading coach of the passenger train — where some passengers were seated — suffered the worst damage.

Investigation Underway

A full-scale investigation has been ordered, and railway authorities say all available medical and technical resources have been deployed. Emergency helplines have been activated for passengers’ families across multiple stations, including Bilaspur, Raigarh and Korba.

India has one of the world’s largest railway networks but continues to face safety challenges, with human error and outdated infrastructure often cited as recurring causes of accidents.