Seven people were killed and several others injured after a passenger train collided with a goods train near Bilaspur railway station in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. While authorities jumped into action to conduct the rescue operation, the administration also announced compensation for the family members of the dead and the injured. Those nursing wounds have been sent to Apollo Hospital and Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) hospital in Bilaspur. Here’s all we know so far about the Bilaspur train accident.
The accident occurred when a MEMU train coach collided with a goods train near Bilaspur station. Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agarwal said that the last bogie of the goods train crashed into the passenger train’s first bogie. Following a preliminary assessment, Railways cited “passing signal at danger by DEMU Train” as the reason behind the incident. “A detailed inquiry into the incident will be conducted at the level of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to ascertain the exact cause and recommend necessary corrective actions,” the Railways said. The visuals show a coach of the passenger train mounted onto a wagon of the goods train.
In a statement, Railways said, “An unfortunate incident involving a collision between a goods train and a MEMU local train occurred near Bilaspur railway station today. The Railway Administration has taken swift action to initiate relief and rescue operations on a war footing. Senior officials have reached the site and are closely monitoring the situation. The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals for immediate medical assistance. 4 persons have died in this unfortunate incident.”
The Railways said relief and rescue operations have been launched on a war footing and senior officials have rushed to the site to monitor the situation. All resources have been fetched at the spot and necessary measures are being taken for the treatment of those injured.
The Railways announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh for those seriously injured, as well as Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
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