Five dead, 36 injured after foot overbridge collapses at Mumbai's CST railway station
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The bridge used to connect the railway station's platform no. 1 with BT Lane near the Times of India building.
A foot overbridge at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station collapsed Thursday evening, leaving five people dead and 36 injured. The injured have been rushed to hospital. Mumbai Police said the bridge used to connect CST railway station's platform no. 1 with BT Lane near the Times of India building.
Mumbai: A team of NDRF and dog squad also present at the spot where portion of a foot over bridge near CSMT railways station collapsed earlier this evening. 5 people have died, 36 injured. Toll is likely to rise. pic.twitter.com/KxR4uxQ7BC
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019
Foot over bridge connecting CST platform 1 north end with B T Lane near Times of India building has collapsed. Injured persons are being shifted to hospitals. Traffic affected. Commuters to use alternate routes. Senior officers are on spot.
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) March 14, 2019
A picture from the accident site (see below) showed that a large section of the floor of the bridge had collapsed.
#SpotVisuals: Two people died, 23 injured when part of a foot over bridge near CSMT station in Mumbai collapsed earlier this evening. (Pic source: NDRF) pic.twitter.com/LjI1qvRqlE
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019
The National Disaster Response Force meanwhile said 10 to 12 people are thought to be trapped under the debris. They added that a team had been rushed to CST railway station.
#WATCH Mumbai: A foot over bridge near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station has collapsed. Multiple injuries have been reported. pic.twitter.com/r43zS5eA0l
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019
A foot overbridge at another Mumbai railway station had collapsed in September 2017. That collapse, at Mumbai's Elphinstone Road railway station, had left 23 people dead.
On Thursday, the news agency ANI quoted the Ministry of Railways as saying the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation was responsible for the foot overbridge at CST. "However, we're extending all our support to the victims. Railway doctors and personnel are cooperating with BMC in relief and rescue operations," the Ministry of Railways added.
Maharastra minister Vinod Tawde, who visited the accident site, said "a slab of the bridge had collapsed". He added that the "bridge wasn't in a bad condition". And that "it required minor repairs for which work was underway".
"Why was it not closed until the work was completed? It'll also be probed," he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had ordered a "high-level inquiry" into the collapse.
"A structural audit of the bridge had earlier been done and it was found to be fit. Even after that if such incident happened, it raises question on the audit. Inquiry will be done. Strictest action will be taken," he said.
Tawde meanwhile said an enquiry into the collapse would be conducted by the Railways and the BMC.
Raj Purohit, BJP MLA on portion of foot over bridge near CSMT Railway station collapse: It's unfortunate, it shouldn't have happened. Action should be taken against the engineer who gave certificate to this bridge in auditing, he should be arrested. He should be punished. #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/Qzx55j0j7s
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019
Fadnavis said an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh would be made to the families of each of the dead, and Rs 50,000 to each of the injured. He added that the state government would provide for their treatment.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant reaches St George hospital to meet the people injured in the incident where part of a foot over bridge near CSMT railway station collapsed earlier this evening. pic.twitter.com/TdKmG5TXwU
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019
Mumbai: Mumbai mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar arrives at St George Hospital to meet the people who were injured in the incident where part of a foot over bridge near CSMT railway station collapsed earlier this evening. pic.twitter.com/RkZxquhL2Z
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meanwhile said he was "deeply anguished by the loss of lives".
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the foot overbridge accident in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing that the injured recover at the earliest. The Maharashtra Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2019
"My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing that the injured recover at the earliest. The Maharashtra Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected," he added.