RAIPUR – A devastating train accident in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district in the pre-dawn hours today has left 11 dead and over 50 injured, after a local passenger train collided with a stationary goods rake. The death toll in the tragic incident continues to rise as rescue operations conclude.
The collision occurred around 5:30 AM near Singhpur railway station. The Raipur-Bilaspur MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) passenger train, filled with early morning commuters, reportedly overshot a red signal and ploughed into the rear of a parked cargo train on the same track. The immense impact caused two coaches of the passenger train to derail and crumple into a mass of twisted metal.
What Happened at Singhpur Station?
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and horror following the collision. “There was a deafening screech of brakes followed by a massive thud that shook our entire village,” said Ramesh Sahu, a local resident who was among the first responders. “People were screaming. We saw mangled coaches and immediately started trying to pull people out from the windows.”
Rescue and relief operations were launched immediately. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) rushed to the scene. Heavy machinery and gas cutters were used to extricate passengers trapped in the wreckage. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals in Raigarh and Bilaspur.
Signal Breach Blamed as ‘Human Error’
Railway officials have stated that a preliminary investigation points to a “signal breach“ as the primary cause of the accident. This is known in railway terminology as a Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD), a grave operational error where a train disregards a red signal.
“Prima facie, it appears to be a case of human error. The loco pilot of the MEMU train seems to have passed the signal at danger, leading it onto the line where the goods rake was parked,” a senior official from the South East Central Railway (SECR) told reporters.
A high-level inquiry headed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety has been ordered to determine the exact cause and establish accountability for the signal breach.
Official Response and Compensation
The incident has brought the critical issue of railway safety back into the national spotlight. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed his grief over the loss of lives.
“Deeply pained by the tragic train accident in Chhattisgarh. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, ₹2 lakh for the grievously injured, and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also expressed his sorrow and directed state officials to provide all necessary assistance to the victims.
As the focus shifts to the investigation, officials are also working to clear the tracks and restore traffic on the busy Howrah-Mumbai line, which has been significantly disrupted by the derailment.
