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By APD Writer Rishika Chauhan
NEW DELHI, September 30 (APD)— Twenty-two people died and around 35 were injured as a stampede broke out on a crowded pedestrian bridge at Elphinstone Road train station in Mumbai on Friday.
Deepak Sawant, the health minister of Maharashtra informed, ”Some of the injured are in serious condition.”
The bridge, where the stampede occurred connects Elphinstone and Parel stations, leading to Lower Parel, which is a significant commercial district of Mumbai. The area is known to be crowded especially during the rush hours as several offices are in the vicinity.
On Friday when the stampede took place the people were rushing inside the bridge to cover themselves from a sudden downpour. The stampede took place around 10:30 in the morning.
Talking about how the stampede was caused, an eyewitness said, “Commuters started panicking after somebody shouted that the bridge was collapsing and that there was a short circuit. People started pushing and those in the middle of the stairs fell. Many commuters who tried to escape through the railing got stuck.”
The station was built nearly 60 years ago and has been awaiting renovation. A resident of the area surrounding the station said, “This accident will hopefully be a wake-up call for the minister and his officials. Instead of fancy bullet trains, they should first ensure railway commuters don’t die horrible deaths like this because of their negligence.”
Meanwhile, Railway minister Piyush Goyal, has ordered a high-level probe and visited the hospital, where the injured are being treated. He also announced that the Elphinstone Road station would be renovated and expanded immediately.
The Chief minister of the province, Devendra Fadnavis announced 500,000 rupees compensation to the families of the deceased, and said all medical expenses of the injured will be borne by the Maharashtra government.
However the opposition criticized the government terming the incident the result of government’s failure to construct appropriate infrastructure for the people. Some opposition leaders also called it a “man-made disaster”.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
