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WhatsApp message helped identify toddler who survived Chhattisgarh train crash

Arjun was reluctant to make the hour-long, but his family insisted that the health problem he had was serious.

WhatsApp message alerted his family about the survival of two-year-old Rishi Yadav. (Express Photo)

these are the parents (Express Photo)

It was a WhatsApp message that alerted his family to the miraculous survival of two-year-old Rishi Yadav. The toddler from Bilaspur’s Devrikhurd was travelling with his parents and grandmother in the ill-fated train for his father Arjun’s treatment in Janjgir-Champa district when the train rammed a stationary goods train near Bilaspur railway station.

Arjun, his wife Shila and her mother were among the 11 people killed when a passenger train heading towards Bilaspur railway station rammed into a stationary goods train a few kilometres from the city. Rishi was pulled out of the wreckage, injured but alive – one of 20 people who were injured.

The family had been in the first coach, which took the full impact of the accident.

“After the two-year-old was rescued, authorities couldn’t identify him,” said Sonu, a friend of Arjun’s. “It was after his photo was circulated on several WhatsApp groups that his aunt recognised him. I also saw the photo on one such group and alerted the family.”

The family had gone to Champa city in neighbouring Janjgir-Champa to consult a doctor for Arjun, an autorickshaw driver in his 30s. Arjun was reluctant to make the hour-long, but his family insisted that the health problem he had was serious.

“His wife and mother-in-law went with him to support him,” said his friend Nitesh Vastrakar.

While Arjun and his mother-in-law suffered fatal head and face injuries, it’s unclear what injuries Shila sustained. He is survived by his toddler son, mother and two siblings.

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His brother Ajay was inconsolable. “My nephew has lost both his parents. My mother is unwell, and I haven’t informed her of the tragedy, fearing for her life,” he said.

The Indian Railways has announced ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for victim families, Rs 5 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries. Additionally, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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