Bilaspur/Raipur: Police filed an FIR against an unidentified person in the Bilaspur train collision, launching a formal investigation into the tragic accident that killed 11 people and injured 20.
The Torwa police station lodged the FIR following a railway official’s memo, confirmed Additional Superintendent of Police Rajendra Jaiswal. On November 4, a MEMU passenger train collided head-on with a stationary freight train near Gatora station, claiming lives, including the MEMU train’s loco pilot.
Rescue teams immediately rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, while Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agarwal reported that two of them remain in critical condition. The FIR cites Section 106(1) of the IPC for death by negligence, Section 125(A) for acts endangering life, and relevant Railway Act provisions.
Railway authorities initiated their own inquiry. A five-member team from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (South Eastern Circle) will question 19 railway staff and witnesses to identify procedural lapses and reconstruct the exact sequence of events leading to the collision.
Investigators are examining whether the MEMU train’s loco pilot’s recent promotion and limited experience contributed to the crash. The accident has triggered debates over railway safety protocols, signaling systems, and operational oversight in high-traffic areas like Bilaspur.
As police and railway officials continue investigating, families of the victims seek answers. Authorities pledged to probe every factor—from human error to communication gaps—to prevent future tragedies.
By filing the FIR and conducting dual investigations, authorities aim to hold responsible parties accountable and strengthen rail safety measures nationwide.
–IANS
