At least four people have been killed and many others injured after a passenger train collided with a freight train in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, railway authorities have confirmed.
According to a report by Indian news outlet NDTV, the collision occurred on Tuesday in the Bilaspur district when a passenger train crashed into a stationary freight train. Local officials initially confirmed that at least four people had died and several others sustained injuries in the tragic accident.
The incident took place near the Lal Khadan area on the Bilaspur-Katni railway line, when the Korba passenger train rammed into the freight train standing on the track. The impact of the collision was so severe that the front coaches of the passenger train were completely mangled.
Bilaspur district police superintendent Rajneesh Singh stated that four people had been confirmed dead, while rescue operations were ongoing. Injured passengers were being evacuated and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Video footage from the scene showed the train’s engine and several front compartments crushed beyond recognition, while rescue workers searched through the wreckage for survivors trapped under debris.
Officials from the railway department, local administration, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) quickly arrived at the site to begin rescue operations.
Among those rescued was a child, officials said. Medical teams and ambulances were deployed to provide emergency care to the injured, with many receiving on-site treatment as they remained trapped inside the wreckage.
The collision also caused significant damage to the overhead electric lines and signalling systems, disrupting train services along the route. Several express and passenger trains were cancelled or diverted through alternative routes, while authorities arranged substitute transport for stranded passengers.
An investigation has already been launched to determine the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest that a signal malfunction or human error may have been responsible for the deadly accident.
Source: NDTV
