Rain, rumour caused panic on crowded bridge: Report
After investigating the September 29 Elphinstone Road stampede, the Western Railway has blamed heavy rainfall and a rumour for the incident. The probe report stated that the downpour led to overcrowding at the foot overbridge and its staircases when commuters refused to step out in the rain.
The situation at the overcrowded FOB took a turn for the worse when people thought that the bridge was about to collapse and they all panicked. Sources said the report pointed out that the crowd tried to exit the station and that caused the stampede.
The probe panel has recommended certain measures including widening of staircases of the FOB to prevent such incidents in the future. Sources revealed an injured commuter told WR authorities that a flower vendor shouted ‘phool gir gaya’ (flowers are falling), which people on the FOB misunderstood as ‘pul gir gaya’ (bridge has fallen) and panicked. The report, which has been prepared by a panel headed by Western Railway’s chief safety officer, is based on the statements of more than 30 witnesses.
“After it began raining, commuters on the staircase refused to move. The commuters, who wanted to come up but were stranded on the staircase, were struggling to climb. This resulted in commotion that led to the stampede with people panicking and trying to escape after hearing rumours that the bridge was about to collapse. All this has been pointed out in the report,”said a source.
According to officials, the report recommends the booking office at Elphinstone Road station be relocated, the staircase be widened, and communication among authorities be improved. The railway authorities are also considering
MUMBAI:
September 29 turned into a black Friday for the city after 23 people lost their lives and 38 were injured in a stampede that occurred at an FOB at Elphinstone Road railway station.
It occurred at 10.30 am when it started raining heavily, which led to commuters standing on the staircase and refusing to move. The railway ministry gave Rs5,00,000 to the families of the dead, Rs1,00,000 to those who were grievously injured and Rs50,000 to commuters who suffered minor injuries.
An enquiry into the incident was ordered by the union railway minister Piyush Goyal. The investigation was headed by the chief safety officer of the Western Railway.
not allowing people with bulky and heavy objects at the station, or in the train during peak hours.
The railway officials visited the spot where the stampede occurred and the injured people’s houses to get their statements. Shilpa Vishwakarma, who sustained injuries in the stampede, told HT that it was the fault of the people who refused to move from the crowded FOB. “The FOB was overcrowded and people refused to move. Everyone was stuck and there was chaos. People were also Goyal held a 10-hour marathon meeting with railway officials discussing every aspect of safety. The CR safety audit report recommends the booking office at Elphinstone Road station be relocated, the staircase be widened and communication be improved with the use of walkie-talkies.
Further, the railway authorities are also considering not allowing people carrying bulky and heavy objects during the morning peak hour.
30 new Foot over Bridges (FOB) were commissioned on both CR and WR.
13 FOBs will be expanded. The railway officials will now prepare a detailed report on the places were FOBs are required.
shouting that the bridge is falling, which resulted in more confusion,” she had said.
The stampede occurred on September 29 on the Elphinstone Road FOB, which connects the station to the Parel station of Central Railway. In what could be called the worst accident on the city’s suburban railway network, 23 people lost their lives and 38 were injured. This prompted the Union railway minister Piyush Goyal to hold a Railway Board meeting in the city. An inquiry into the incident was ordered.