Bilaspur Train Accident: Did the Loco Pilot Ignore the Red Signal or Was It a Technical Failure? Probe Reveals Shocking Details

Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh):

The Bilaspur train accident that claimed 11 lives and left several passengers injured occurred in the Lalkhadan area of the Bilaspur–Katni railway section on Tuesday. A Korba–Bilaspur Passenger Train (No. 68733) collided head-on with a goods train, causing multiple coaches of the passenger train to derail.

Authorities are now investigating the exact cause — whether it was a signal violation by the loco pilot or a technical fault in the signalling system.

According to the preliminary inquiry report by the South East Central Railway (SECR) headquartered in Bilaspur, the crew of the MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) passenger train has been found responsible for the mishap.

The SECR report stated: “The crew failed to control the train properly before the danger signal. They could not stop at the SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger) signal.”

The report also revealed that the train was running at 76 km/h just before the collision. These details were reported by The Indian Express.

Ongoing Investigation:

A detailed investigation has been launched to determine whether the accident resulted from human error or a technical failure. Officials said that the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) began a full-scale inquiry on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Bilaspur Police have registered an FIR based on a memo received from railway officials and have begun questioning key personnel.

As per railway sources, no official statements have yet been issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) or the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM).

Investigators have noted that if cameras were installed in the loco pilot’s cabin, the inquiry could have been concluded faster. Police are expected to record the statement of the assistant loco pilot, who survived the crash and is currently hospitalized.