A foot overbridge near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station — one of the busiest stations in Mumbai — has collapsed. As per an NDTV report, at least four people have died, and at least 28 people have been injured in the incident that took place during peak hours. The bridge was maintained by Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Police officials said that the incident happened around 7.30 pm — when there was a lot of rush on the overbridge.
According to a MoneyControl report, an eyewitness said that there were more than 20 people on the bridge when it collapsed.
#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
#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
As per NDTV, two women — both staff at the GT Hospital located nearby — died in the incident. The report added that eyewitnesses said repairs were being carried out on the overbridge this morning. The bridge, despite that, was still in use.
While the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) initially notified the authorities that 10-12 people were feared trapped under the debris, the police later said that such was not the case.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has tweeted about the incident.
He said:
Pained to hear about the FOB incident near TOI building in Mumbai.
Spoke to BMC Commissioner and @MumbaiPolice officials and instructed to ensure speedy relief efforts in coordination with @RailMinIndia officials.— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) March 14, 2019
Congress leader Milind Deora, weighing in on the precarious condition of infrastructure in Mumbai said, “The BMC had ordered a structural audit of the bridge which stated that only minor repairs were needed. The accountability should be fixed. Those who carried out the audit should be booked under Section 302.”
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Srjewala attacked the Maharashtra BJP government and the Centre, asserting that they were “criminally culpable for inaction”.
Modi Govt & Mah. Govt are criminally culpable for inaction leading to repeat tragedies-:
29/9/2017-Elphistone Stampede.
3/7/2018-Andheri Bridge Collapse.
Rly Min’s tall claims of Audit have failed time and again.
Rly Min, Piyush Goyal must resign or be sacked.
2/2— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 14, 2019
This is not the first instance of a bridge collapsing in Mumbai due to wear and tear. Last year, Andheri’s GK Gokhale Road overbridge collapsed, killing two people. In the structural audit, minor repair of the foot overbridge was proposed.
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