At least 11 people were killed and 20 others injured after a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train in the Lalkhadan area of Bilaspur district in India’s Chhattisgarh state on Tuesday. The accident occurred on the Bilaspur–Katni route, authorities confirmed.
The front coach of the passenger train was completely crushed in the collision. Videos and photos from the scene showed the mangled remains of train engines and carriages.
Railway officials, local authorities, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) quickly launched rescue operations. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, and rescuers managed to pull a child alive from the wreckage.
Train services on the route have been suspended due to severe damage to overhead power lines and the signaling system, though some trains are being diverted via alternative tracks.
Railway authorities have ordered a high-level inquiry into the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest a signal failure or human error may have been responsible.
Indian Prime Minister and the Minister of Railways expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Source: The Times of India.