A tragic incident recently unfolded at Mumbai's Elphinstone Railway Station due to a stampede, claiming many lives. The Defense Ministry and Army will now undertake the bridge's construction. Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have arrived at Elphinstone Station to review the situation.
The Defense and Railway Ministries are joining forces to construct the Elphinstone Bridge with great urgency. Notably, part of the area around the station falls under military jurisdiction, hence the Army's involvement.
On this occasion, Devendra Fadnavis announced that with the Army's assistance, we will construct three bridges, to be completed by January. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal mentioned that following the incident, continuous meetings with railway officials have been held. Elphinstone, Curry Road, and another bridge will be collaboratively constructed by the Army and Railways. Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that the Army has consistently acted in times of crisis, completing such tasks swiftly.
It was on September 29 when a stampede on the Elphinstone Bridge resulted in the loss of 23 lives. The tragedy occurred on the overbridge between Parel and Elphinstone railway stations, injuring over 35 individuals.
The mishap was reportedly caused by slippery conditions due to rain and a broken railing section. The government announced a compensation of 10 lakh rupees for the families of those who perished. The issue also drew criticism from the Shiv Sena and MNS targeting the central government.
Rumor was the primary cause: Panel Report
The panel investigating the incident stated that rumors of the bridge collapsing were the main trigger for the stampede. This misinformation escalated the situation. The report revealed that due to heavy rain, people suddenly crowded onto the stairs, leading to the unfortunate gathering.
