Mumbai foot overbridge collapse leaves five dead, several injured
Mumbai, Mar 14 (IBNS): At least five people died while 29 got hurt after a foot overbridge near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Railway Station in Mumbai collapsed on Thursday evening during a rush hour, media reports said.
The overbridge was undergoing repair but it was still operative.
The collapse occurred around 7:30 PM when there was a rush on the foot overbridge.
Several people are still feared trapped and a team of the National Disaster Relief Force is helping with the rescue work.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed anguished over the loss of lives due to the bridge collapse.
"Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the foot overbridge accident in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing that the injured recover at the earliest. The Maharashtra Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected," Modi wrote in Twitter.
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the foot overbridge accident in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing that the injured recover at the earliest. The Maharashtra Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2019
Confirming the incident, Mumbai Police tweeted that the injured have been shifted to the hospital.
"Foot overbridge connecting CST platform 1 north end with B T Lane near Times of India building has collapsed," the Mumbai Police tweeted.
Foot over bridge connecting CST platform 1 north end with B T Lane near Times of India building has collapsed. Injured persons are being shifted to hospitals. Traffic affected. Commuters to use alternate routes. Senior officers are on spot.
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) March 14, 2019
While the Railway Ministry has said the overbridge was under the control of Mumbai's civic body, Brihanmumbai Corporation's lawmaker Anil Desai has denied the claim.
Two of the deceased are women and use to work at the GT Hospital.
Reacting to the accident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted: "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."
Pained to hear about the FOB incident near TOI building in Mumbai.
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) March 14, 2019
Spoke to BMC Commissioner and @MumbaiPolice officials and instructed to ensure speedy relief efforts in coordination with @RailMinIndia officials.
The CSMT bridge, built in 1984, was not included in the list asked to undergo audit after another foot overbridge had collapsed last year in Andheri.
About 445 such bridges had to undergo safety audit after last July's Andheri bridge collapse.
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