At least five people including two women have been dead and three dozen other injured after a foot overbridge collapsed near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) railway station in Mumbai Thursday evening.
CST is one of the busiest railway stations in Mumbai and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It serves as headquarters of the Central Railways. It collapsed during peak hours, at around 7:30 pm.
A tweet after the collapse by Mumbai Police read, “Foot over bridge connecting CST platform 1 north end with B T Lane near Times of India building has collapsed.”
According to eyewitnesses the bridge was undergoing repair works Thursday morning without shutting down for public.
The bridge was built in 1984 and lakhs of people use it every day.
Meanwhile, a set of excuses have started pouring from authorities and BMC Chief Engineer Sanjay Darade said, “Structural audit of the bridge was carried out and recommendations were also made. A slab of the bridge has collapsed while the structural frame is as it is.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is learned to have instructed speedy relief efforts.
His tweet read, “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.”
He declared ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs to kin of deceased. He has also ordered a high-level inquiry.
