Mumbai foot overbridge was not considered `risky`, had `minor defects`: BJP Minister Vinod Tawde

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Vinod Tawde has said that the footover bridge outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was under repair when a portion of it partially caved in at around 7:30pm on Thursday.

Tawde claimed that the bridge was not considered 'risky' and it only had some “minor defects”. He added that an investigation will be launched to find out why the bridge was open for public despite repairs being undertaken. 

The bridge collapse has resulted in the death of five people and 34  are injured, two of them critically. The bridge connected the CST railway station with the Azad Maidan Police Station.

Congress leader Murli Milind Deora said that the BJP and Shiv Sena should be held responsible for the collapse, as the bride was under the BMC, which is run by BJP-Sena combine.

BJP MLA Raj Purohit demanded strict action against the engineer who gave certificate to this bridge in auditing and said that he should be arrested.

The bridge was officially known as 'Himalaya' foot overbridge and it was constructed in 1980. The srtucture audit of this bridge was done by last year after the tragedy at Elphinston foot overbridge and the audit had found this bridge was found to be in good condition.

Sources said that the audit of the foot overbridge was ordered last year after the collapse of another foot overbridge in Andheri last year. A total of 445 were named for safety audit after Andheri's incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the loss of lives in the incident and tweeted, "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."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed pain at the incident and said that 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.