Raipur, Nov 4: At least four people were killed and two others were missing in a tragic railway accident that shook Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, when a MEMU passenger train travelling from Gevra Road to Bilaspur collided with a stationary freight train near Bilaspur station, officials said.

Several others have sustained injuries.

The collision occurred around 4 p.m. on the up line between Gatora and Bilaspur stations, in the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone.

Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agarwal confirmed four fatalities, with a police officer at the scene reporting two passengers still trapped under debris as hydraulic cutters worked frantically to extricate them.

Over a dozen others sustained injuries, ranging from fractures to severe trauma.

“We lost four precious lives; rescue teams are using every resource to free the trapped, two more people are being extricated, but we cannot say anything about them as of now,” Agarwal told reporters amid chaotic scenes at Lal Khadan, where locals and onlookers swelled into a massive crowd.

The MEMU service number 68733 was en route to Bilaspur when it rammed into the rear of a freight train near Lal Khand, just outside Bilaspur railway station.

The impact was so severe that the leading coach of the MEMU train mounted the freight rake, causing extensive damage and triggering panic among passengers.

Eyewitness videos, circulating on social media, show the passenger coach perched atop the freight wagons, underscoring the force of the collision.

Railway officials, including SECR General Manager Tarun Prakash and Bilaspur Divisional Railway Manager Rajmal Khoiwal, rushed to the site to oversee rescue and relief operations.

Medical teams and ambulances were swiftly deployed, and injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

According to the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of SECR, two people have been officially confirmed injured, though local reports suggest the death toll may rise as rescue efforts continue.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Preliminary reports indicate that both trains ended up on the same track, but it is unclear whether this was due to a signalling failure or human error. A high-level inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the collision.

Train services on the affected route have been suspended or diverted, and the railway has issued helpline numbers for families seeking information about their loved ones. Compensation for the victims is expected to be announced following the completion of initial assessments.

The accident has drawn a large crowd to the site, with local authorities working alongside railway personnel to manage the situation and ensure the safety of onlookers. As the nation reels from yet another rail tragedy, questions are being raised about safety protocols and infrastructure readiness in one of India’s busiest railway zones.

New Delhi, Nov 4: The mega player auction for the 2026 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will be held on November 27 in the national capital, sources aware of the development told Media on Tuesday.

Had previously reported on October 22 that New Delhi edged Goa to emerge as the top choice to be the host city of the mega auction set to be held for the first time in WPL’s history. “There was a toss-up between November 26, 27, and 28. But it has now been communicated to all five franchises by the BCCI that the auction will be on November 27,” further said sources.

In terms of the venue for the auction to be held for one day, Media understands that a plush hotel in Aerocity could be the venue for the WPL mega auction, especially after it emerged that the initial choice, Bharat Mandapam, will be busy hosting the India International Trade Fair (IITF) from November 14-27.

The player retention deadline for all five WPL teams – two-time winners Mumbai Indians, 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru, three-time runners-up Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants – is on Wednesday.

Each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indian players. If a team chooses to retain five players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian player. The auction purse has been set at INR 15 crore.

Retention slabs have been defined as follows: INR 3.5 crore for Player 1, INR 2.5 crore for Player 2, INR 1.75 crore for Player 3, INR 1 crore for Player 4, and INR 50 lakh for Player 5. The Right to Match (RTM) option will enable franchises to buy back players who were part of their 2025 WPL squads, with a cap of five RTMs per team.

Depending on the number of retained players, the corresponding deductions from the purse will be: INR 9.25 crore for five players, INR 8.75 crore for four, INR 7.75 crore for three, INR 6 crore for two, and INR 3.5 crore for one.

The number of RTMs available will vary accordingly – franchises retaining fewer players will have more RTMs at their disposal. Teams using all five retentions will forfeit the RTM option entirely. The final date for WPL mega auction player registration is November 18, while the final list of players in the auction will be released on November 20.

Understands that India’s win in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup could have a late impact on WPL teams’ player retention strategies.

“A few franchises may have a relook at their retained players list to accommodate the ones who did well for India in winning the trophy. The same goes for a few overseas players who did well in the World Cup,” further said sources.

Mumbai, Nov 4: Tata Group’s hospitality arm, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), on Tuesday reported a 48.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) drop in net profit to Rs 285 crore for the quarter ended September 2025 (Q2 FY26).

The company had posted a profit of Rs 555 crore in the same quarter last financial year (Q2 FY25), according to its stock exchange filing.

Despite the fall in profit, IHCL’s revenue from operations rose 11.8 per cent to Rs 2,040.8 crore, compared with Rs 1,826 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

The company’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) also showed improvement, rising 14.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 572 crore from Rs 501 crore a year ago.

The EBITDA margin improved slightly to 28 per cent, compared with 27.4 per cent in the same quarter last financial year.

On the market front, IHCL shares ended at Rs 743.75 on the BSE, down Rs 3.30 or 0.44 per cent on Tuesday.

Over the last five days, the stock gained Rs 2.35 or 0.32 per cent, while in the past month, it rose Rs 20.65 or 2.85 per cent.

However, over a longer period, the stock has faced some pressure. In the last six months, IHCL shares fell Rs 57.60 or 7.18 per cent, and on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, they are down Rs 129.40 or 14.81 per cent.

Still, over the past one year, the stock has gained Rs 77.65 or 11.65 per cent.

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is South Asia’s biggest hospitality group. It was founded in 1903 by Jamsetji Tata, who started it with the opening of The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai.

The company is best known for its Taj hotels and its unique culture called “Tajness,” which combines Indian tradition with modern hospitality.

Today, IHCL runs more than 550 hotels across four continents and focuses on being both innovative and sustainable.