Stampede at Mumbai’s Bandra railway station leaves at least nine injured

Due to rush on platform number 1, where a crowd had gathered for train number 22921 at Bandra Terminus station a few passengers got injured

At least nine persons were injured following an incident of stampede at Mumbai’s Bandra railway station on early on Sunday (October 27, 2024).

The stampede situation occurred at around 5.30 a.m. on Sunday. Due to rush on platform number 1, where a crowd had gathered for train number 22921 (Bandra-Gorakhpur express train) at Bandra Terminus station a few passengers got injured in the stampede. The injured passengers, some of whom are in critical condition, have been rushed to the Bhabha hospital.

Those injured have been identified as Shabhir Abdul Rehman (40), Parmeshwar Sukhdar Gupta (28), Ravindra Harihar Chuma (30), Ramsevak Ravindra Prasad Prajapati (29), Sanjay Tilakram Kangay (27), Divyanshu Yogendra Yadav (18), Mohammad Shareef Shaikh (25), Indrajith Sahani (19) and Noor Mohammad Shaikh (18), the official said.

Due to the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals, the north-bound trains have been running packed from Mumbai.

The empty Antyodaya Express, having all 22 general class coaches, “was being backed on platform no.1” at around 2.45 am, PTI said as per the railway sources.

Things got out of hand when passengers, who had queued up while waiting for the train, tried to board it when it was taken on the platform from the yard with doors of the coaches locked from inside, they said.

In the attempt to board the train, some people fell on the platform when they came in between two coaches.

Prima facie, the people fell on the platform after colliding with the coaches or in the space between two coaches, the sources said.

“Ideally, doors of the coaches are opened after the train makes a halt at the platform and passengers then board in a queue,” a WR source said.

Western Railway’s chief spokesperson Vineet Abhishek could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts and there was no official statement so far from the WR’s public relations department.

Following the incident, the Antyodaya Express left for its journey from the Bandra Terminus almost at the scheduled time.

Temporary restriction on platform tickets

Central Railway on Sunday (October 27, 2024) imposed a temporary restriction on sale of platform tickets at major stations to reduce festival crowding. In a release issued during the day, CR said the platform ticket sale restrictions will be in force in Chhatrapati Shivjai Maharaj Terminus, Dadar, Kurla LTT, Thane, Kalyan, Pune and Nagpur stations with immediate effect.

“The restriction imposed to manage anticipated crowding during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festive season will be there till November 8. This step aims to manage crowding on platforms and ensure smooth passenger movement within station premises,” the release stated.

“Senior citizens and those with medical needs, however, are exempted from these restrictions. Passengers are urged to adhere to the new regulations for smooth and safe travel experience during the festive period,” it added.

(With agency inputs)

Published - October 27, 2024 09:52 am IST