Overview
- Eleven people were killed and about 20 injured when a Gevra–Bilaspur MEMU struck a stationary goods train between Gatora and Bilaspur around 4 pm Tuesday.
- An SECR preliminary report by five experts says the passenger crew failed to control the train at a danger signal, committing a SPAD, with the train’s reduced speed recorded at 76 kmph.
- The Commissioner of Railway Safety, B. K. Mishra, has begun a statutory investigation under Section 113 of the Railways Act and is gathering evidence.
- Bilaspur Police have registered an FIR based on a railway memo, while the injured assistant loco pilot remains hospitalised and could not undergo a breath analysis test.
- Chhattisgarh Congress leaders seek a high-level probe, compensation of ₹1 crore for each victim’s family and ₹50 lakh for the injured, and faster deployment of the Kavach protection system they say has been pending for the zone.