22 people lost their lives in a stampede in Mumbai’s Elphinstone railway station. The incident happened around 10.00 am today among passengers on a narrow bridge that connects the Elphinstone station with Parel station. It was nothing new that the bridge was over flooded with people as the bridge connecting Parel Station in Central Railway to Elphinstone Railway station is strait thus, it is always jam-packed with the people who interchange between Central and Western Railway stations.
What made it worse is the heavy rains of Mumbai. Many people were waiting for the rain to end. The stampede broke when four trains came at the same time and due to the rain and people rushed. A man slipped and when the other passengers tried to help him, a few more commuters slipped along with him, which led to mayhem at the Elphinstone Railway.
22 people are reportedly dead and more than 60 people are injured who are rushed to KEM hospital near the stampede site.
Death of 22 people have been confirmed & 27 have been injured: Anil Saxena, DG PR, Railway #mumbaistampede pic.twitter.com/pWAPe1TIbP
— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2017
According to the reports published on NDTV, it was a short-circuit near the bridge after which people panicked and the chaos started, however, police are trying to ascertain the reason for the stampede.
Piyush Goyal, the Railway Minister has already reached Mumbai.
Just landed in Mumbai. Deeply grieved at tragic loss of innocent lives due to an unfortunate stampede at Elphinstone Road foot over bridge.
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 29, 2017
My heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 29, 2017
Have ordered a high level enquiry headed by the Chief Safety Officer, Western Railways.
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 29, 2017
Maharashtra Government Announced A Compensation of Rs 5 Lakh Each To The Family Of Those Dead.
Compensation of 5 Lakhs each will be given to kin of those dead.State Govt will bear medical expenses of injured: Vinod Tawde,MH minister pic.twitter.com/vxMGF820m4
— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2017
Prime Miniter Narendra Modi And President Ram Nath Offered Condolences To All Who Have Died In Mumbai Stampede.
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/913668678926790657
Anguished by the loss of lives in the stampede in Mumbai. Condolences to the bereaved families; prayers with injured — #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 29, 2017
Passengers have stated that the bridge is old and too narrow to contain the rush. It has been more than two decades that passenger associations have been asking for a bigger railway bridge but the authorities have never responded to the request.
29 September 2017
Avni S. Singh