10 injured in stampede at Bandra station as passengers rush for seat in UP-bound train

“The stampede happened while the train (Train No. 22921) was being slowly maneuvered from the Bandra Terminus yard to Platform No. 1. As it moved, many passengers attempted to board, leading to injuries as some individuals fell down in the rush,” the official statement reads.

According to a senior official of the Western Railway (WR), the Bandra-Gorakhpur Express has a seating capacity of 2,036, while 2,530 tickets were sold — an over capacity of 22 per cent. However, because the train was fully unreserved, there was no restriction on ticket sales exceeding the train’s seating capacity, according to WR.

The rush took place despite two earlier trains departed on the same route — one to Gorakhpur and another Avadh Express, officials said, emphasising the need for increased passenger awareness about the availability of multiple trains to avoid overcrowding. In the 5.10 am train, a single journey ticket was Rs 540, while for the earlier reserved trains, it was Rs 435.

An injured person being taken to a hospital after a stampede at Bandra railway station, in Mumbai on Sunday. (Screengrab: PTI)

Two among the 10 injured — Noor Mohammad Shaikh (18) and Indrajit Sahani (19) — are in critical condition and are admitted to KEM Hospital, according to the BMC. The remaining injured are being treated at Bhabha Hospital and KEM. Five persons remain hospitalised, while three others were discharged.

Family members of the injured who gathered at hospitals raised the urgent need for enhanced safety measures, highlighting the vulnerabilities within public transportation systems in a city like Mumbai with an estimated floating population of two crore.

Talking to The Indian Express, the patients’ kins at Bhabha Hospital in Bandra said that some were heading to celebrate Diwali and Chhath Puja, while others were commuting for work.

Shabeer Rahman Sheikh was on his way to a wedding with his son, Sameer, and family friend Noor. “It was meant to be a joyful occasion, but now we are in a hospital,” said Noor’s mother. Noor suffered severe injuries after falling between the train and the platform. “My husband and elder son were also hurt, but Noor’s injuries are the worst,” she added.

Kamla Chandra Kannaujia shared the harrowing experience of his brother Sanjay, who was injured in the stampede. “It had been a long time since we visited our village, and we were finally making the trip. I went to get tickets for Sanjay when the crowd suddenly surged,” he said.

Sanjay suffered a partially severed toe and abdominal trauma. “There was no space to stand; the railway administration completely failed to manage the crowd,” Kamla said.

Recounting the events, Ramdev, a relative of passenger Ramsevak Prajapati who suffered a fracture in his leg, said, “Ramsevak was heading to his village for Chhath Puja. He works in Mumbai, while the rest of his family stays in the village. A couple of other villagers were with him,” he said.

Pointing out that the cancellation of a night train worsened the situation at the station, Ramdev said, “The cancellation of that one train led to a massive crowd. The authorities really need to improve their crowd management strategies.”

Ravindra Chuma, who was at the station to see off a friend, found himself caught in the turmoil. A family member said, “Ravindra works as a tailor in Chembur and has suffered severe injuries on his head and chest. He is currently in the ICU, fighting for life.”

Officials said that to handle increased passenger rush during Diwali and Chhath festivals, the Indian Railways has deployed over 130 special trains, primarily on routes to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Following the stampede incident, Western Railway immediately suspended platform ticket sales at Bandra Terminus and other major stations, with Central Railway implementing similar restrictions to manage crowd control during the festival season.

A WR official added that the entry to Bandra Terminus and other long-distance train stations will be restricted to valid ticket holders. Ropes will be tied to manage queues at general coach entries to prevent overcrowding and ensure orderly boarding, the official said.