Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expresses shock at the tragic Railway accident near Bilaspur on 4th November 2025, where a MEMU local train collided with the rear of a stationary goods train.
CITU condoles the death of nine people including the loco pilot Sri Vidyasagar in the accident. It shares the grief of their families and friends.
Tragic rail accidents are recurring amid big claims of improved safety in Railways by the Minister. CITU strongly condemns the attitude of the Railways, of prematurely accusing the diseased loco pilot for jumping the danger signal even before the commencement of the statutory enquiry by the Railway Safety Commissioner, thereby prejudicing the enquiry.
CITU and several unions of Railway employees like the AILRSA have been highlighting the negligent attitude of the Railways in ensuring safety of the passengers as well as the Railway employees, under the neoliberal regime. There is severe shortage of loco pilots in South East Central Railways. It is reported that as on 1st January 2025, there were 2556 vacant posts amounting to around 39% of the posts in Bilaspur division itself while in the entire zone 4330 posts, i.e. 37% posts are vacant. In the last 10 months around 500 loco pilots retired or left their jobs. This creates unbearable workload and pressure on the existing staff, who are denied rest and weekly leaves
CITU demands that the Railways address the real problems in the Railways that have been resulting in frequent accidents and deaths of hundreds of passengers and Railway employees particularly loco pilots and track maintainers. The Railways should immediately take measures to upgrade the safety standards matching the increasing numbers of trains, their frequency, speed, load and length. Single person working of MEMU/ EMU/ DEMU etc must be withdrawn and train protection warning system has to be installed all over the Railways network.
Issued by
Tapan Sen
General Secretary
