Bilaspur Train Accident: Loco Pilot Took Charge of Passenger Train a Month After Promotion

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has launched a detailed investigation into the incident. Safety Commissioner B.K. Mishra has reached Bilaspur, where statements from 19 South East Central Railway (SECR) officials and staff members are being recorded.

Accident on a Curved Track
According to the railway’s report, the collision occurred on a curved section of the Lalkhadan–Gatora track, where visibility of signals is limited. It is suspected that the loco pilot mistook a signal meant for another track and increased the train’s speed. When the goods train appeared ahead, braking could not prevent the impact.

The accident happened around 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, when the Gevra Road MEMU local train (68733) was heading toward Bilaspur. The train’s motor coach climbed onto the goods train’s wagon, intensifying the collision.

11 Dead, Over 20 Injured
So far, 11 passengers have been confirmed dead, and more than 20 others are injured. The injured have been admitted to hospitals in Bilaspur and Raigarh. Rescue operations by local authorities and NDRF teams continued throughout the night to extract passengers from the wreckage.

Senior railway officials stated that compensation for the families of the deceased has been initiated on humanitarian grounds. Further disciplinary action will be taken after the CRS submits its final report.

CRS Investigation Underway
The CRS team began its inspection this morning. Nineteen railway personnel — including signalmen, control officers, station masters, and technical staff — are being questioned about duty rosters, signal operations, and communication logs from the time of the accident.

Commissioner B.K. Mishra said, “Preliminary findings suggest human error, but the final report will be based on a detailed analysis of all evidence.”

Loco Pilot Recently Promoted
Sources said loco pilot Vidya Sagar had been driving freight trains for several years before being promoted to passenger train operations a month ago. Experts believe limited experience and confusion over signal visibility may have been key factors behind the tragedy.

Until the CRS inquiry concludes, the railway has imposed additional safety measures along the affected route to prevent similar incidents.