Six persons were killed and 29 others injured when parts of a foot overbridge, connecting the CSMT railway station with B.T. Lane, near the Times of India Building in south Mumbai, collapsed during rush hour on Thursday evening.
The Himalaya Bridge — known locally as ‘Kasab Bridge’ since it was used by the 26/11 terrorist to cross over to the railway station — across the busy D.N. Road collapsed around 7.35 p.m.
The victims have been identified as Apoorva Prabhu and Ranjana Tambe — both nurses at the GT Hospital — Zahid Khan, Bhakti Shinde, Tapendra Singh, and Mohan Kayangude. The condition of one of the injured, Dilip Parekh, is said to be critical.
Police officials and rescue workers rushed to the site, and the injured were taken to GT and St. George Hospitals nearby.
Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet that he was pained to hear about the bridge collapse. “I have spoken to the BMC Commissioner and the police officials. Instructions have been given to ensure speedy relief efforts in co-ordination with the Indian railway,” he added.
Police officials said personnel from all stations nearby had been called in for rescue work and crowd-control. “The remaining part of the bridge is being demolished to prevent it from collapsing, causing any more casualties,” a police officer at the site said. The arterial J J flyover, located just a few meters away from the site of the collapse, was closed to traffic from both ends.
FIR lodged
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the bridge.
Late on Thursday, Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Manjunath Singe said the Azad Maidan police had registered an FIR for death due to negligence.
Sources added that the FIR was filed against “concerned Railway and BMC officers” and the names of specific accused would be added after further investigations.
Mohammad Akhtar Ansari, a taxi driver, had a miraculous escape as a portion of the bridge came down on his cab. Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Ansari said, “I was going to Mahim with a lady passenger. Just as I turned left into D.N. Road, the whole bridge collapsed on my car. It took both of us a while to realise what had happened and we got out as quickly as possible.” adding that he Mr. Ansari and his passenger tried to help many injured persons from under the debris.
Former MP and Congress’s Lok Sabha candidate for south Mumbai Milin Deora, who reached the spot, claimed that a structural audit of the bridge was done just six months ago.
“After the structural audit it was declared safe with some minor repairs. I demand that the BMC officers and auditors be charged with murder,” Mr. Deora said.
