Police Register FIR in Deadly Bilaspur Train Crash: Investigation Underway After 11 Killed in Railway Collision

11 passengers lost their lives in the devastating incident.

Bilaspur:

Police have filed an FIR against an unidentified individual following the catastrophic train collision in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, initiating a formal criminal investigation into the accident that claimed 11 lives and left 20 people injured.

Additional Superintendent of Police Rajendra Jaiswal confirmed that the FIR was "registered at Torwa police station based on a memo from a railway official."

The collision occurred on November 4 near Gatora station when a MEMU passenger train crashed head-on into a stationary freight train. The violent impact resulted in 11 immediate fatalities, including the MEMU train's loco pilot.

Emergency rescue operations commenced promptly, with injured passengers transported to local medical facilities. Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agarwal reported that two injured passengers remain in critical condition.

The FIR has been filed under Section 106(1) of the Indian Penal Code for death by negligence, Section 125(A) for endangering life or personal safety, along with applicable sections of the Railway Act.

The police investigation will proceed simultaneously with the railway authorities' inquiry. A five-member team headed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety for the South Eastern Circle has launched an investigation into the accident.

This investigative team plans to interview 19 individuals, including railway personnel and witnesses, on November 6 and 7 to establish the accident timeline and identify any procedural or communication failures.

Railway department sources have expressed concerns regarding the MEMU train's loco pilot, who had reportedly been promoted to operate a local train just one month before the accident.

Investigators are assessing whether inexperience or procedural violations contributed to the tragic collision.

The accident has intensified scrutiny of railway safety protocols and operational supervision, particularly in high-traffic regions like Bilaspur.

As police and railway officials conduct their investigations, victims' families await answers and accountability. Authorities have promised a comprehensive examination of all aspects—including potential human error, signaling systems, and communication protocols—to prevent similar tragedies.

The parallel investigations aim to determine responsibility while strengthening safety measures throughout the railway network.