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22 Dead, Many Injured In Stampede Near Mumbai’s Elphinstone Station

The incident took place around 10.30 am during rush hour near a ticket window between the Parel and Elphinstone stations.
Mumbai:

Twenty-two were killed and over 30 seriously injured in a rush-hour stampede in Mumbai this morning, when a crowd tried to leave a narrow foot over-bridge connecting two train stations after heavy rain. Heart-wrenching visuals showed a crush of bodies on the bridge, straining against the railing. Screams for help are heard from those trying to escape the weight of the bodies and some were seen jumping off the bridge.

The stampede broke out around 10.30 am near a ticket window on the bridge between the busy Parel and Elphinstone Road stations. According to witnesses, four trains came at the same time and due to the rain, a few commuters slipped, which led to chaos in the surging crowd. There were more than the usual people on the bridge at the time, waiting for the rain to end.

"Many were waiting in the rain. There were too many people in a cramped space. When people were trying to rush to their trains, the stampede happened," said railway spokesperson Anil Saxena.

Visuals showed people on the ground, many not moving at all, and attempts to revive them with water and first aid. Passengers and local people were seen carrying bodies down the bridge. Footwear was seen scattered next to the bridge and rescuers were seen clearing out more from the stairs. The police were trying to control the crowd of commuters.

 The police are investigating reports that a short-circuit with a loud sound near the bridge led to panic and people started running.

Praveen Bangar, a senior medical officer at the KEM hospital near the accident site, said 15 people were brought dead.

The two stations are used by much of Mumbai’s local train commuters as there are a large number of offices in the area.

Angry commuters and residents said the bridge is too old and narrow and not strong enough to take the busy sector. "It was a disaster waiting to happen," remarked a local resident, saying that the station has been overcrowded and there have been multiple demands for more such bridges.

"I have been travelling for five-six years. It has always been like this. We have no choice but to use this bridge...where else can we go? No one listens to us," said a woman commuter.

Local trains are the lifeline for the 20 million people of Mumbai and accidents are common on the busy network.

Mrs. Sujatha Shetty and Mrs Sums Shetty from Bunts Sangha Mumbai’s Kurla- Bhandup Region (kanjur marg) have Lost their lives in the stampede at Elphinstone (Parel) Our Deepest sympathies are with their family. pray to God that he grants their family the strength and courage to bear this loss. May his soul Rest In Peace. Rons Bantwal Hon. Gen. Secretary : Kannadaiga Patrakartara Sangha Maharashtra Sate (Regd.)