A passenger train collided with a freight train moving forward on the same track on November 4, 2025. | Photo credit: PTI
A preliminary investigation into a train accident near Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh that left 11 dead and several others injured on November 4, 2025, has found that the crew crossed a red signal, leading to the collision.
While the Locomotive Pilots’ Association claimed that there were visibility problems as the accident occurred on a curve with different lines and signals, leading to confusion under glaring sunlight, an inquiry report involving senior railway officials from various departments concluded that the accident fell under the “Signal Passed At Danger” (SPAD) category.
The unfortunate passenger train collided with a freight train traveling ahead on the same track. Loco pilot Vidya Sagar died on the spot while his assistant was admitted to hospital with serious injuries and was unable to give a statement about the circumstances leading to the accident.
According to sources in the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) in the South East Central Railway, the Main Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) passenger trains usually had only one locomotive pilot. However, in Train No. 68733 (Gavera Road to Bilaspur), an Assistant Locomotive Pilot was also deployed as the Locomotive Pilot failed the competency test.
The crew lost control
The probe report said the crew “failed to control the danger signal” and collided with the freight train’s rear brake, leading to the SPAD incident. “The crew is responsible for not controlling the train at the right time and in the right position before the ‘danger signal…’,” a source with access to the report told The Hindu on Sunday (November 9, 2025).
AIRSA Zonal Secretary VK Tiwari said that an attempt was made to pin the blame on the locomotive pilots immediately after the accident without conducting an inquiry. He said the train was traveling at 45km/h after passing an earlier yellow signal and the locomotive pilots had picked up speed to 76km/h, probably thinking the double yellow signal for the adjacent track in the arch was theirs.
“However, seeing another train on the same track, the locomotive pilot applied emergency brakes and reduced the speed of the train. The speed of the MEMU at the time of the collision was 48 kmph as reported by the data logger,” Mr. Tiwari said.
Meanwhile, BK Mishra, Commissioner of Railway Safety (under Ministry of Civil Aviation), South Eastern Circle, Kolkata, has concluded a mandatory inquiry into the fatal accident. “AIRSA has provided CRS with a statement of our concerns,” he said.
Published – 9 Nov 2025 20:02 IST
