Elphinstone Stampede Live: 22 Dead, CM Fadnavis Assures Inquiry

Twenty-two people were reportedly killed in a stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone Railway Station, that broke out at around 10:22 am on Friday, 29 September.

At least 39 people were left injured in the mishap on a crowded foot-over-bridge at the train station on the Western Line, which was reportedly triggered by heavy rains.

Catch the live updates at The Quint.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday night reached the KEM hospital to meet the victims of the tragedy.

“It was a very sad and a serious incident. An inquiry will be done into the incident,” Fadnavis told reporters.

“Railways ministry has started an audit of FOBs at the stations so that a similar incident is not repeated in the future. I have given assurance to the Railway ministry that the state government and the local administration will do everything needed,” Fadnavis added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrived at the KEM hospital, nearly 12 hours after the stampede to meet the victims of the tragedy.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha ruled out the structural strength of the foot overbridge connecting Mumbai's Parel-Elphinstone Road stations being a factor in Friday's horrific stampede but later said his remarks were being "distorted".

"The incident has occurred due to stampede. So I don't think that any question over the foot overbridge's strength arises.”

"A large number of people in Mumbai commute daily. The railway has already been undertaking task of strengthening the overbridges in a serial wise manner. And we are trying to strengthen all the bridges one after the other," he said here after 22 commuters were killed and many more injured in a stampede on the narrow railway foot overbridge.

Later, in a statement, Sinha said that he was deeply saddened by the deaths of innocent people in the "unfortunate incident", and that his remarks were being "distorted".

"A high level probe has been ordered into the unfortunate incident. But nobody should do politics over such incidents. Some people are trying to present my statements in a distorted form. This is not right," he said.

Police are examining CCTV footage and also the video clips shot by onlookers to find out what led to the deadly stampede.

Police have got hold of CCTV footage of the bridge, Assistant commissioner of police Sunil Deshmukh said. "We are also approaching some eye-witnesses to get information about the incident," he added.

Some onlookers shot videos of the incident on mobile phones and police are seeking help from them for the investigation, he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Singapore on an official visit, has reached Mumbai and is en route to KEM Hospital, reported CNN News 18.

A document accessed by The Quint shows that the extension of the foot-over-bridge was already sanctioned by Suresh Prabhu during his tenure as Railways Minister at a cost of Rs 11.86 crore.

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal assured that work on foot-over-bridges will be quickened in the wake of the Elphinstone stampede. After chairing an emergency meeting with Railway officials in Mumbai he said,

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal is currently heading a meeting with officials regarding various issues related to suburban section.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has cancelled his foreign visit and is on his way back from Singapore, as CNN News18 reported.

The Western Railways released a press note stating that the rains were unprecedented and people were caught unaware which led to the stampede, which led to an overcrowding at the exit.

It was announced that a new 12 metre long foot over bridge at the north end parallel to this bridge has already been sanctioned connecting Western and Central Railways, along with East-West connectivity.

An Accidental Death Report (ADR) under section 174 of CRPC has been registered at Dadar Police Station after the Elphinstone stampede in which 22 people lost their lives and 39 were injured.

An additional foot-over-bridge has already sanctioned for Mumbai's Elphinstone Station, a railway official announced.

Along with the foot-over-bridge, the platforms at the station will also be extended, he added.

The KEM hospital has a list of the deceased, of which 14 are male and 8 female.

Health Minister JP Nadda spoke to Railway Ministe Piyush Goyal and enquired about the health of injured people and offered necessary assistance.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday expressed shock and anguish over the death of 22 persons in a stampede in Mumbai and said the "man-made" disaster could have been avoided by taking care of the safety aspect.

She said she hoped a proper inquiry would be conducted to fix responsibility for the tragedy on the narrow foot overbridge connecting the Parel-Elphinstone Road stations of Western Railway.

In a statement here, Gandhi conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families.

The Congress leader expressed concern over rail safety in the country and said "

She urged Congress workers to contribute in providing assistance to the bereaved families.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted his condolences about the stampede at Elphinstone.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said that incidents like the stampede at Elphinstone have defamed the government and people are very upset.

Also Read: Bullet Trains? Repair Stations First: Twitter on Elphinstone

Anand Mahindra tweeted as a Mumbaikar, saying that he felt ashamed of what took place at the Elphinstone station.

Also Read: Anil Kapoor Tweets on Elphinstone Tragedy, Questions Development

Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut stated that the government is concerned with flagging off bullet trains but not with the infrastructure of the local trains.

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant had raised questions of a foot over bridge being constructed for the daily commuters at Elphinstone station, with the Railway Ministry in February 2016, as CNN News18 reports.

The recommended width of the bridge is supposed to be 178 inches or 4.5 meters but the current bridge is only 77 inches.

The then railway minister Suresh Prabhu had responded, saying the construction was “under consideration”.

Back in 2010 as well, RTI activists had raised concerns of the existing bridge beigna safety hazard for the commuters.

A total of 39 people have been injured in the stampede at the Elphinstone station in Mumbai, reported ANI.

MoS of Railways Manoj Sharma said that the incident happened due to a stampede and not the infrastructure of the bridge.

Piyush Goyal announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for those who have been serioulsy injured at the stampede. He also said that an audit of the foot-over-bridges will be conducted.

He further said that widening of foot-over-bridges wherever necessary will be done on ‘high priority’.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Maharashtra Minister Vinod Tawde have reached KEM Hospital.

• Churchgate station- 22039840
• Mumbai Central station- 23051665
• Elphinstone Road station- 24301614

Shortly after his arrival, Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal expressed shock over the tragedy. “This happening to my Mumbai is a worrisome affair and we have to ensure that this does not happen in the future,” he said.

“Compensation of Rs 5 Lakh each will be given to kin of those dead,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. The government will also bear the medical expenses, he said.

Fadnavis said an enquiry will be conducted and “strict action" will be taken.

“I pray for speedy recovery of the injured persons,” said Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, who landed in Mumbai a few hours after the tragedy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to those who lost their lives in the stampede. Piyush Goyal is “taking stock of the situation and ensuring all assistance,” the PM said.

Angry commuters claimed the authorities came at least half-and-hour after the incident.

Mumbai Mayor, V Mahadeshwar, said that 9 women and 21 men have been admitted with grave injuries.

The death toll has risen to 22.

Angry commuters blamed the railway authorities for the stampede.

Railway officials claim that the stampede was triggered when people were taking shelter from the rain. A commuter slipped on the wet floor, causing several others to trip and fall too.

The KEM hospital has released a helpline number for all those who need medical attention: 022-24107000

Speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena MLA, Ajay Chowdhary blamed the government for the mishap.

The PRO of the Railways, R Bhaskar, said the incident occurred when people were taking shelter from the heavy rain at the railway station. He said that Railway Minister Piyush Goyal would visit Elphinstone Railway station as soon as he lands in Mumbai.

The Railway Minister was scheduled to flag off 60 new suburban train services for Mumbai commuters today. He was also scheduled to take a ride in a local train from Vile Parle to Churchgate and then address railway officials. The plan is likely to be cancelled in the wake of the mishap.

The roof of the railway station also reportedly started leaking during the course of the rain.

At least 22 people were killed, and several others injured at a stampede that broke out at around 9:30 am at Mumbai's Elphinstone Railway station on Friday.

Sources around the railway station told The Quint a short circuit on the bridge triggered panic, following which 20 people jumped off the bridge.

According to the police, who described the incident as a “minor stampede”, 20 people have been seriously injured, while the others have sustained minor injuries.

The exact number of casualties and the cause of the incident is yet to ascertained. The local trains may be delayed and cancelled in the wake of the mishap.

Medical and police teams have been rushed to the spot. The injured have been moved to Mumbai’s KEM Hospital.

Goyal had recently said that no school-going child, college student, citizen of Mumbai should travel unsafe.