Bilaspur Train Tragedy: Loco Pilot Who Failed Psychological Test Was at the Controls — Major Railway Lapse Exposed

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New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, the investigation into the Bilaspur train accident in Chhattisgarh has exposed a serious case of human negligence within the Indian Railways. Officials have confirmed that the loco pilot operating the MEMU passenger train had failed the mandatory psychological (psycho) test, yet was allowed to drive the train — a direct violation of railway safety norms.

The tragic collision between a MEMU local train and a goods train near Gevra Road station on November 4 claimed 11 lives, including that of loco pilot Vidyasagar. Initially, the accident was attributed to a fault in the automatic signaling system, but the latest findings by the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) suggest human error played a significant role.

Pilot Had Failed the Test in June

Sources revealed that Vidyasagar had failed the psycho test conducted on June 19, which assesses a driver’s mental stability, reflexes, and decision-making ability under stress. Despite this, senior officials approved his promotion from goods train driver to passenger train pilot, an upgrade that is strictly conditional on clearing the psychological evaluation.

According to railway safety protocols, no driver who fails this test can be assigned passenger duty, as it involves higher responsibility and risk. Yet, documents show that Vidyasagar was given full charge of a MEMU train despite the test results.

Officials Ignored Warnings

Sources further disclosed that railway authorities were fully aware of Vidyasagar’s failed test results. To mitigate the risk, an assistant loco pilot, Rashmi Raj, was deployed alongside him — but the primary driving responsibility remained with Vidyasagar. The decision is now being termed a serious administrative lapse.

The CRS has initiated a detailed probe, recording statements from over 19 railway employees, including divisional engineers and operational staff. Statements from the remaining officials are expected to be taken by Friday.

Questions Over Promotion and File Approval

Investigators are now scrutinizing the promotion file that cleared Vidyasagar’s appointment as loco pilot. The file reportedly passed through the Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer and the Operations Department, where it received final approval.

The key question now: How was a driver who failed a mandatory psychological test approved for passenger train duty?

This revelation has raised serious concerns over internal oversight, documentation integrity, and safety accountability within Indian Railways — an institution already under pressure to ensure stricter operational discipline following recent accidents.