5 dead, 36 injured in Mumbai's CST station foot overbridge collapse

At least five people were killed and 36 others injured after a part of a foot overbridge collapsed on Thursday near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Two of the injured people are in critical condition. The incident took place around 7.30 pm when a major portion of the bridge caved in, an official said.

The injured people have been admitted to the nearby St. Geroge hospital, and several others were shifted to the G T hospital.

Of the total five people who died in the incident, three are women and two are men. The three women who were killed have been identified as Apoorva Prabhu aged 35, Ranjana Tambe aged 40 and Sarika Kulkarni aged 35 and the two men have been identified as Zahid Shiraj Khan aged 32 and Tapendra Singh aged 35. Prabhu and Tambe were the staff of the G T hospital.

All those people who were trapped under the debris have been rescued. 

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal expressed his sincere condolences to the family of the victims of the bridge collapse. "Railway Minister @PiyushGoyal expresses his sincere condolences to the family of the victims in Mumbai Bridge Collapse. Railway doctors and personnel are cooperating with BMC in relief and rescue operations," tweeted his office.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed pain at the incident. Taking to Twitter the CM said the BMC Commissioner and the Mumbai Police officials have been instructed to ensure speedy relief efforts in coordination with the Railway officials.

"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," said the CM.

The Central railway in a statement said, "In an unfortunate incident a portion of public FOB (not railway FOB) has fallen outside CST railway premises across the road. Railway traffic is not affected. Railway doctors, paramedical staff, ambulance are at the site to extend all the possible help to local authorities."

The debris has been cleared now.

The traffic has been closed on both bounds between CST junction and JJ Flyover till further orders. The cmmuters have been advised to use the Mahapalika Marg from CST to Metro Junction and ahead towards Princess Street Flyover/ Crawford Market/ Chakala and Mohammed Ali Road.

Commuters coming from JJ Flyover may take a right turn towards Crawford Market/ Metro Junction/ CST and ahead or take a left turn at Nesbit junction and move further to PD mellow road/Avatar Singh bedi chowk to CST/ lion Gate, Regal junction and further.

The bridge connected the bustling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station with the Azad Maidan Police Station.

The bridge which connected the area near the Times of India building with the iconic CSMT station was commonly known as 'Kasab bridge' after the 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist passed through it during the terror attacks.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and fire brigades have been rushed to the spot for rescue operations. The NDRF said that a 45-member team has been rushed to bridge collapse site.

Senior police officers are also present at the spot. One team from Regional Response Center (RRC) Mumbai has also been rushed to the spot.

The Ministry of Railways said that the bridge was of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). They, however, added that they are extending support to the victims. "The bridge was of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). However, we're extending all our support to the victims. Railway doctors and personnel are cooperating with BMC in relief and rescue operations," said Ministry of Railways.

The CST bridge was not part of a safety audit ordered after another foot overbridge had collapsed in Andheri. More than 400 such bridges had to be assessed in a safety audit after Andheri bridge collapse.

The traffic in the area was affected and commuters were asked to use alternate routes. 

According to the Mumbai Police PRO, the bridge comes under the BMC. The bridge was repaired a year ago.

Earlier in July 2018, a part of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) had collapsed on the tracks near Andheri Station towards Vile Parle on the south end. At least six people were injured in the incident. Known as the Gokhale, the bridge connects Andheri East to West. 

A foot overbridge (FOB), connecting the Parel-Elphinstone Road stations, collapsed at the suburban Elphinstone Road station in Mumbai in September 2017, killing 23 people and injuring over 30 people. In videos from the incident, people could be seen trying to climb over the railings of the stairway to escape the stampede. Commuters claimed that the foot-over bridge at Elphinstone was narrow and always crowded during the peak hours. Heavy rain had been held responsible for the stampede.