Mumbai
Stampede killed at least 22, leaving several injured.
Updated : Sep 29, 2017, 01:00 PM IST
Mumbai rains and poorly maintained station infrastructure caused a massive stampede at Elphinstone station on Friday killing 22 and leaving several injured so far.
Injured people were moved to nearby KEM hospital and rescue teams reached the station to bring the situation under control.
The incident happened on the day Railway Minister Piyush Goyal is in Mumbai and is scheduled to board a local train at 1:00 pm at Vile Parle station.
Lower Parel area of Mumbai is a corporate hub where millions of Mumbaikars come to work in hundreds of offices. During office rush hours, when more than two trains arrive at Elphinstone and adjusting Parel station, making it one of the most crowded areas in the vicinity.
Daily commuters had warned of the situation and they saw the disaster coming a mile off when in the morning they reached the Elphinstone station.
Stampede like situation at Elphinstone & Parel Rly Bridges as people waiting for rains to stop!#MumbaiRains@RidlrMUM @smart_mumbaikar
— Roads of Mumbai (@RoadsOfMumbai) September 29, 2017
Why go to Lonavala for waterfalls? Enjoy the same experience at Elphinstone/Prabhadevi Stn.@RailMinIndia @WesternRly @RidlrMUM @mymalishka pic.twitter.com/nXVytLTNpH
— Roads of Mumbai (@RoadsOfMumbai) September 29, 2017
Commuters were also talking about the dire situation at the stations a few days ago.
I spend at least 10 mins of my day in a queue at #Parel to get up the stairs to exit. Getting to work is such a struggle. #mumbailocal pic.twitter.com/ep3sk59zau
— Aparajita (@aparajita_k) September 28, 2017
#Elphinstone stampede hasnt shocked commuters. They'd bin complaining about the bridge for many days now. Railway authorities any answers?
— Roshni Olivera (@RoshniOlivera) September 29, 2017
During rush hour, this is what Parel foot over bridge is like. The stampede at #elphinstone comes as no surprise pic.twitter.com/Yr71Legufh
— Santosh Nair (@sant0nair) September 29, 2017
#Elphinstone
— Abhishek Singh (@aksk99) September 29, 2017
I have been to this suffocation evryday moving to my office at Kurla. Eachday i just pray plz not today.#RIP Mumbaikars
Reports of stampede on bridge connecting Elphinstone Road and Parel Railway stns. With narrow staircase& gangway, this was waiting to happen
— Dhaval Kulkarni (@dhavalkulkarni) September 29, 2017
The Parel- Elphinstone Road railway bridge almost vibrates/ shakes because of the passenger load during peak hours #MumbaiRailwaystampede
— Dhaval Kulkarni (@dhavalkulkarni) September 29, 2017
BJP MP from Mumbai (North-East) Kirit Somaiya responded to the situation and talked about taking action regarding increasing the commuters capacity of the areas near local stations.
Here is what Kirit Somaiya has to say about the #Elphinstone stampede https://t.co/NCkFHTlKhD pic.twitter.com/JQZDaInBN2
— DNA (@dna) September 29, 2017
Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar refused to answer questions.