27 killed in stampede at Elphinstone railway station in Mumbai

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Sep 29 2017 DH News: At least 27 persons were killed and 30 plus others were injured following a stampede at the foot-over bridge at Elphinstone Road that connects the Western Railway to Parel on Central Railway on Friday.

The injured persons have been rushed to the nearby King Edward Memorial Hospital at Parel.

“My deepest condolences to all those who have lost their lives due to stampede in Mumbai. Prayers with those who are injured,” prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

The incident took place around 1015 hrs in the morning.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal is in flight on way to Mumbai, where he was to dedicate 100 new suburban stations on the CR and WR route in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region coinciding with the Navratri-Dassera festivities.

The function is likely to be accident.

“It is a very unfortunate incident,” said Mumbai mayor Prof Vishwanath Mahadeshwar after visiting the Parel railway station.

So far 27 persons have died, the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said quoting Dr Pravin Bangar, the senior medical officer of KEM Hospital.

Top officials of the Western Railway, Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) have rushed to the spot to carry out investigations and rescue and relief work.

What triggered the stampede is not yet known, however, this morning Mumbai suddenly received heavy rains.

“Since there were rains lot of people took the foot-over bridge and it was completely packed,” said an eye-witness, who stays in the nearby area.

Smartphone footage of the bridge showed that the bridge was packed with people and even some were seen clinging down of the railings and jumped down to safety.

The injured persons received fracture injuries, doctors in the hospital said.

“The bridge has not collapsed,” said additional division fire officer S Rane said.