A Story of Survival and Pain: Voices from the Bilaspur Train Accident

Inside the hospital, the atmosphere is tense. Patients are being rushed to the X-ray room. A family waits anxiously, recounting the terrifying moments of the accident.

_”People were running everywhere, scared. More than half of those sitting in the back were terrified,”_ says one witness. The mother, Radha Nishad, is in pain—her chest and ribs hurt, and she is deeply shaken. The daughter explains, _”After the accident, we thought it was just a minor injury and went home. But by morning, the pain became unbearable, so we came to the hospital.”_

The family had traveled from Bilaspur, bringing Radha to the hospital after realizing her injuries were worse than they first appeared. _”There was no proper arrangement at home. She was very scared. Yesterday, when we arrived to pick up our relatives, the scene was chaotic—people were screaming, and many were in shock,”_ recalls a relative.

At the site of the accident, local college students were the first to help. _”The rescue team hadn’t arrived yet. The students from the nearby engineering college helped many passengers, carrying them to safety,”_ says another witness. Many victims with minor injuries returned home, but those with serious internal injuries slowly made their way to the hospital as the pain worsened.

_”Money doesn’t matter when someone’s life is at stake. The most important thing is proper treatment,”_ says an elder. He urges the authorities to ensure all injured people receive the best care possible, regardless of compensation.

As the family waits for Radha’s X-ray results, her daughter shares, _”She didn’t eat or sleep last night. The pain kept her awake. Now, she’s getting injections and painkillers, but the chest and rib pain remain.”_

The chaos of the accident still haunts them. _”My brother fell onto the tracks. He’s okay now, but we sent him home,”_ she adds. Many families like theirs are still searching for missing loved ones, hoping for good news from the hospitals.

In the aftermath, the local government and railway authorities have promised full support and proper medical care for all victims. The tragedy, however, has also sparked political debate, with some accusing parties of using the incident for their own gain instead of focusing on the suffering families.

_”We are doing everything to ensure the injured are treated properly. The state government and railway administration stand firmly with the victims,”_ says an official.

As the story of Radha Nishad and her family unfolds, it is a reminder of the pain, resilience, and hope that emerge from tragedy. The real heroes are the ordinary people—the students, the families, the survivors—who help and support each other in the darkest times.