7 Killed as Passenger Train Rams Goods Train in Chhattisgarh; Dozens Trapped, Rail Traffic Hit
A passenger MEMU from Korba collided with a stationary goods train on Tuesday afternoon near Lal Khand / Lalkhadan close to Gatora (Gataura) / Gatora (Gataura) station in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh.
The crash — which happened on the busy Bilaspur–Katni / Bilaspur–Howrah route — badly damaged the front coaches of the MEMU; one coach reportedly rode up onto a freight wagon.
Rescue teams are working to free people trapped inside a women-only coach that has been cut open with gas cutters.
Casualties and medical response
Railway and district officials have confirmed at least 7 deaths, and 15–17 injured people (including women and children) are being treated at hospitals in Bilaspur.
Officials say the death toll may rise as rescue teams complete extrication.
A railway medical unit and divisional officers were dispatched immediately, and injured passengers have been taken to nearby railway and district hospitals.
Rescue operations (current status)
- Fire-and-rescue teams, railway engineering staff, and heavy-machinery crews are on site; gas cutters are being used to open crushed coaches and extricate survivors. Teams are prioritising women and children reported trapped in the badly damaged coach.
- The Commissioner of Railway Safety / a formal railway inquiry has been ordered and senior divisional officers are overseeing relief work; state authorities and South East Central Railway officials are coordinating on-site.
Preliminary cause (under investigation)
Early reporting and eyewitness accounts indicate the passenger MEMU either failed to stop or passed a signal and struck the rear of the goods rake; media reports mention possible signalling/automatic signal issues or a communication lapse as potential factors.
Railway investigators will verify whether signal failure, driver error, speed, or procedural lapses were involved.
Trains cancelled / diverted (reported)
Traffic along the Bilaspur–Katni / Bilaspur corridor was suspended after the accident.
Multiple news outlets and rail-tracking communities report that a number of long-distance and regional services were diverted or cancelled while the accident site is cleared.
Reported affected services (status reported in initial bulletins/coverage) include:
- 18477 Puri–Rishikesh (Yoganagari Rishikesh Utkal Express) — Diverted via Bilaspur–Gondia–Jabalpur–Katni routing.
- 12549 Durg–Udhampur Express — Diverted (alternate routing via Gondia / Jabalpur corridor reported).
- 18238 (CSMT/BCT–Bilaspur service) — Cancelled (reported in roundup lists).
- 12807 Samata Express — Diverted (reporting indicates rerouting).
(These early lists were compiled from local and national reporting and rail-community trackers; the set above represents trains named in multiple bulletins — the exact set of diverted/cancelled trains may be larger and is being updated by the railway.)
What should passengers do now?
- Check live train status via official Indian Railways / NTES / IRCTC or call the railway helpline 139. Local helplines set up for the accident are: Bilaspur: 7777857335 / 7869953330; Champa: 8085956528; Raigarh: 9752485600; Pendra Road: 8294730162; Korba: 7869953330; Uslapur: 7777857338; On-site: 9752485499 / 8602007202.
Compensation
The railway has announced ex gratia compensation for the victims’ families and the injured.
Reported packages include ₹10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹5 lakh for seriously injured passengers; official confirmation will follow in the formal press release.
This account will be updated further as official railway circulars (diversion/cancellation bulletins) and CRS / divisional investigation findings are released.
For immediate travel decisions, passengers should consult NTES / IRCTC or call 139 and the local helplines above.
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