Mumbai: 22 dead, over 30 injured in stampede at Elphinstone Railway Station foot-over-bridge

ENS, 29th September 2017, Mumbai: Twenty-two people died and over 30 sustained injuries in a stampede on a foot overbridge at Mumbai's Elphinstone Railway Station in Parel in the suburban section of Western Railway on Friday around 10:30 am, according to media reports. The incident occurred at around 9.30 a.m. here at a north foot over bridge.

Commuters panicked upon hearing a rumour that a bridge had collapsed, eyewitnesses said. According to some others, there was a short circuit leading to overcrowding on the bridge.

“We saw several people falling off the staircase,” said one commuter.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal arrived on the spot to take stock of the situation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Railways Ministry would conduct an inquiry.

State BJP leader Vinod Tawde has announced a compensation of rupees five lakhs each to the families of the deceased. The state government will bear the medical expenses of those injured.

It was raining heavily and trains steamed into both stations at the same time. That led to overcrowding on the narrow foot-overbridge. Rumours added to the panic and a stampede took place on the staircase that exits from the foot-overbridge, local residents said.

The Elphinstone Road station is the nearest access point for the newly developed business district of Lower Parel. The foot-overbridge that leads to the exit from the station also connects the Parel station on suburban section of Central Railway.

The bridge has not collapsed, officials stated.

The injured were been taken to KEM hospital by members of the public and the police before the arrival of the brigade.

On enquiry with KEM hospital authorities, it was found that of the 32 injured, 23 were males and 9 were females.

"Two fire engines and one Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), plus six to seven ambulances have been rushed to the spot," said ADFO Sanjay Rane, Station Officer, Sakpal.

Police have reached the spot while the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation’s disaster management unit said agencies have been mobilized to tackle the situation.

Accident Relief Medical Equipment Train were rushed to the accident spot and immediate medical assistance was provided. Senior railway officers were also been rushed to the site.