A Deafening Sound And Screams Before It Turned Dark: Survivors Recall Chhattisgarh Train Collision

At least eight persons, including the loco pilot, were killed and 14 others injured after a passenger train allegedly jumped a red signal and collided with a goods train from behind near Bilaspur station

in Chhattisgarh. Survivors recalled scenes of chaos and horror — a deafening sound, sudden darkness, and desperate cries for help. Passengers were scrolling their phones, were busy chatting, and some were dozing off, unaware that within seconds, their journey would turn into a nightmare.The incident happened at 4 pm on Tuesday when the MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) passenger train was heading to Bilaspur to Gevra when it collided with a goods train from behind near Bilaspur station. The impact of the collision was so severe that a coach of the passenger train ended up on top of a wagon of the cargo train.Sanjeev Vishwakarma (35), a resident of Bilaspur, was scrolling through his phone when the accident happened. "I was sitting in the first coach. There were about 16-17 of passengers, including men, women, and children. Suddenly, around 500 metres after leaving Gatora, the train shook violently and crashed into something. There was a thunderous sound followed by people's screams...Then everything went dark," he told news agency PTI."When I opened my eyes, I was pinned under the seat. People were crying for help. My coach had climbed onto the goods train. I saw bodies right in front of me. Three people, including a woman, died. Their faces still haunt me," he said, lying on his hospital bed.

Mohan Sharma, a marketing professional from Raipur, had boarded the train from Champa (in neighbouring Janjgir-Champa district). He said that he experienced a sudden jerk and was thrown to the floor. "I had planned to go to Raipur by Link Express train, but the train was late so I thought I would save time by taking this (MEMU) train. Although I de-boarded this train, thinking of once again taking the Link Express but again boarded the same. I was using my mobile phone when there was a violent jerk, the next thing I knew, I was thrown to the floor. My phone flew away," he told the news agency."When I looked out, I saw the first coach resting on the goods train's wagon. My right leg was trapped, I couldn't move it. Railway staff pulled me out and rushed me for treatment. It all happened in seconds," he said. He said that if the train had "slowed down", people would have been alive. Mehbish Parveen (19), a second-year BSc Mathematics student at D P Vipra College Bilaspur, was returning to Bilaspur from her home Naila in neighbouring Janjgir-Champa district after attending a family wedding. "I was travelling in the first coach. It was supposed to be a happy journey back. Then came the crash. My leg broke. I can't forget the screams as everyone was shouting for help," she said.

A detailed inquiry into the incident will be conducted at the level of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to ascertain the cause and recommend necessary corrective measures, reported PTI.