Police officials said the incident happened around 7.30 pm when a large portion of the bridge fell on Dr DN Road. (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
Mumbai CST bridge collapse HIGHLIGHTS: A day later to Mumbai’s foot overbridge collapse, which claimed at least six people’s lives and left 31 left injured, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) suspended the supervisor of the structural audit, which was conducted six months ago, and a supervisor of the repair work. In its preliminary report released on Friday, the BMC stated that the structural audit, six months ago, was conducted irresponsibly and negligently and the audit failed to point out the impending failure.
The foot overbridge connecting north-end of Mumbai’s nodal Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station to BT Lane near Anzuman Islam School collapsed on Thursday evening. Two of the dead have been identified as Apoorva Prabhu and Ranjana Tambe, nurses on their way to report for duty at GT Hospital.
Police officials said the incident happened around 7.30 pm when a large portion of the bridge fell on Dr DN Road affecting north-bound traffic on JJ flyover during peak hour. This is the second major collapse in last one year. Last year, Andheri’s G K Gokhale Road overbridge collapsed, killing two people. Ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned to each family of the deceased, while Rs 50,000 will be provided to each injured, said CM Devendra Fadnavis.
The foot overbridge, whose structural audit was recently done, is maintained by the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation. The structural audit had proposed minor repair to the FOB. Read | Among dead, three nurses, two in hospital they worked
Mumbai CST bridge collapse LIVE: A bridge collapsed in Andheri last year that killed 2 people.
The preliminary report of BMC states that structural audit, which was conducted six months ago, has failed to point out an impending failure. "It's apparent that structural audit report has failed to point out an impending failure. In spite of commissioning the report of bridge & spending public money on it, true condition of bridge was not brought out. The structural report should be made public," the report stated.
A day after a foot overbridge connected to CSMT railway station collapsed, killing six persons and injuring 31, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to dismantle the structure. In a meeting chaired by BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta Friday morning, it was also decided that the civic body's Chief Engineer (Vigilance) would conduct an inquiry into the causes that led to the deck of the FOB collapsing on Thursday
evening. PTI
Nurses and other staffs at GT hospital held a condolence prayer meeting for the victims of CSMT FOB tragedy. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)
Injured child Advait getting shifted from GT hospital on Friday. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)
Central Railway officials Friday said they were cleared off the blame after Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation chief Ajoy Mehta instituted an inquiry into the collapse of the foot overbridge connected to CSMT station, PTI reported.
The Central Railway team had received massive flak on social media since last evening after the FOB had collapsed.
"Top BMC officials have admitted that the bridge was under the civic body's jurisdiction and maintenance. CR had no role to play in building it or maintaining it. Therefore, the question of police booking railway officials for negligence in connection with the FOB collapse does not arise," a senior CR official told PTI.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Manjunath Singe, Mumbai Police spokesperson said that first it will be verified what responsibility does the BMC and Central Railway have and based on the findings, they will take a call.
(Express Photo by Nirmal Harindaran)
"It is shocking that such an accident can take place even after a structural audit. Primary responsibility will be fixed by this evening. I have asked civic chief (Ajoy Mehta)to find out names of those responsible," Fadnavis said.
After meeting those injured in the footover bridge collapse in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "There are around 10 injured admitted in the ward, one in ICU; all out of danger now. A high-level inquiry will be done to probe into the matter. FIR has been lodged."
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the spot where foot overbridge collapsed Friday. (Express photos by Nirmal Harindran)
The collapse will be jointly probed by BMC and Central Railways, said Vinod Tawde, District Guardian Minister of Mumbai. "I have discussed the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as with CR General Manager D K Sharma, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta and joint police commissioner (L&W) Deven Bharti. The railways and the BMC will jointly inquire the accident," Tawde told reporters.
Three of the six dead in the foot overbridge collapse at the CSMT railway station Thursday were nurses at Gokuldas Tejpal (GT) Hospital nearby — two of them were rushed to the same hospital they worked at. Hospital staff said that while they were prepared for casualties, they were stunned when they saw the first few patients wheeled in: Apurva Prabhu (35) and Ranjana Tambe (40), both nurses at the hospital who were on their way to begin their night shift. READ MORE HERE
Officials said the FOB is around 35 years old and last repair was undertaken in 2010-11. “In 2016, under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the northern end of the bridge was taken up for beautification but not repairs. The plan included changing the tiles of the bridge and new paint,” said an official.
READ MORE HERE
The foot overbridge (FOB) that collapsed on Thursday killing six persons and injuring 31, had been declared “fit for use” in a structural audit report submitted just six months ago.
Three of the six dead in the foot overbridge collapse at the CSMT railway station Thursday were nurses at Gokuldas Tejpal (GT) Hospital nearby — two of them were rushed to the same hospital they worked at.
Hospital staff said that while they were prepared for casualties, they were stunned when they saw the first few patients wheeled in: Apurva Prabhu (35) and Ranjana Tambe (40), both nurses at the hospital who were on their way to begin their night shift. READ FULL REPORT HERE
Mohan Kayangudi, who worked it Zaveri Bazaar passed away at Gokuldas Tejpal hospital in Mumbai, increasing the death toll to 6. ANI reported that Mumbai Police has registered a case to investigate the bridge collapse.
NDRF team was withdrawn from the accident spot at 10.34 pm after the completion of the rescue operation, ANI reported. Five people have died and 31 have been injured in the incident where part of a foot overbridge near CSMT railway station collapsed in Mumbai earlier this evening.
Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan after meeting the injured at GT Hospital: "There are sufficient no.of doctors here, the experts are here. There is sufficient blood available in the blood bank. Accountability will come next, our priority is to cater to the injured first." (ANI)
Dr Ranjit Patil, MoS Home, Maharashtra reacted to the footover bridge collapse: "Footover bridge near ToI Mumbai collapsing is a tragic incident. CM has immediately called for a meeting with BMC commissioner and Railway Ministry. Taking the injured to safety is of utmost importance and it is being done at a war-level." (ANI)
Congress urged the state government to lodge an FIR with immediate effect under IPC Section 302 (punishment of murder) against the concerned officers and auditors, said former Union Minister Milind Deora.
"If the govt wants to send a message to the common Mumbaikars that this won't happen again then they should immediately lodge an FIR under IPC Section 302 which amounts to murder, against the concerned officers & auditors," said Deora.
Ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each will be given to the families of the deceased and a compensation of Rs 50,000 each will be provided to the injured, ANI quoted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as saying. He added that treatment to the injured will be provided by the Maharashtra government
"It's unfortunate. I've ordered for a high level inquiry. A structural audit of the bridge had earlier been done&it was found to be fit. Even after that if such incident happened, it raises question on the audit. Inquiry will be done. Strictest action will be taken," said Fadnavis.
Death toll rises to five, while 30 are injured in Mumbai's foot overbridge collapse, which connects north-end of Mumbai’s nodal Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station to BT Lane near Anzuman Islam School.
The incident is a grim reminder of the stampede that took place on a foot overbridge (FOB) connecting the local railway stations of Elphinstone Road. At least 22 people were killed and 39 others were injured.
The memory of the stampede left several scarred. The injuries are still painful for those who survived the mishap and memories of that day, perhaps, more agonising. While some stare at unemployment following incapacitating injuries, others continue to nurse a fear of local trains and railway bridges.
Read more | Mumbai’s CST overbridge collapse revives tragic memory of Elphinstone stampede
Mumbai Police to register the offence under IPC Section 304 (A) (causing death due to negligence), said DCP (zone 1) Abhishek Trimukhe.
Traffic is being blocked on both bounds between CST junction and JJ Flyover, traffic advisory stated. Commuters have been advised to use the Mahapalika Marg from CST to Metro Junction and head 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 head 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.
(Express photos By Prashant Nadkar)
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"It's unfortunate, it shouldn't have happened. Action should be taken against the engineer who gave the certificate to this bridge in auditing, he should be arrested. He should be punished," said Purohit.
The Railways Ministry said the bridge was part of the 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," the Ministry said. Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde said Railways and BMC would conduct an inquiry.
"A slab of the bridge had collapsed. Railways and BMC will conduct an inquiry into its maintenance. The bridge wasn't in a bad condition, it required minor repairs for which work was underway. Why was it not closed until the work was completed, it'll also be probed," ANI quoted Tawde as saying.
Last year in July two people died and several were injured and train services were hit when part of a 47-year-old road overbridge (ROB) across the railway line at Andheri collapsed on the tracks between Andheri and Vile Parle stations on the Western Railway’s (WR) suburban line. The pedestrian pavement along the bridge collapsed a little past 7.30 am just as the morning crowd of office goers was trickling into the station. The collapse blocked the tracks and damaged overhead equipment, hitting WR’s suburban services. An inspection had shown corrosion of parts under the bridge. READ FULL STORY HERE
Post the July 2018 Gokhale bridge collapse in Andheri, the BMC had carried out a structural audit of 296 bridges. The audit had revealed that 18 bridges needed demolition and reconstruction (10 major bridges and 8 foot overbridges). However, according to the officials, this FOB was not in the list of 18 bridges that was needed to be demolished and reconstructed. The audit of the bridge stated it required only minor repairs.
Entry to the foot overbridge has now been blocked as Mumbai police grapple in trying to control the crowd. The bridge had gained infamy after terrorist Ajmal Kasab passed through the structure during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Post the attack, many of the locals refer to the structure as 'Kasab bridge'.
Colaba BJP MLA Raj Purohit is at the accident spot. He blamed the BMC for the incident. “The BMC is responsible for this accident. Tomorrow they will issue a statement saying that all bridges will be surveyed and audited. The engineer who was undertaking this work should face an inquiry and be punished,” he said. Meanwhile, the NDRF has dispatched a 45-member team to the bridge collapse site.
The death toll in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus foot overbridge collapse has now mounted to four. About 28 people were injured. Two among the dead, Apoorva Prabhu and Ranjana Tambe, were nurses at GT Hospital. They were on their way for duty.
This is second major collapse in last one year. Last year, Andheri’s G K Gokhale Road overbridge collapsed, killing two people. Police officials said the incident happened around 7.30pm, when a large portion of the bridge fell on Dr DN Road affecting north-bound traffic on JJ flyover during peak hour.
A foot overbridge connecting platform 1 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station with BT Lane collapsed today evening. A person succumbed to his injuries after being brought at St George hospital. According to the latest official figures, 16 people have been injured.