Elphinstone Stampede: One Year After Tragedy, Mumbaikars Come Together to Pay Tribute to Victims
On 29th September 2018, 23 people were killed in the rush hour stampede on a narrow overbridge linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations during heavy rain.
Mumbai, September 29: Mumbaikars on Saturday paid tribute to Elphinstone stampede victims on the 1st anniversary of the incident today, i.e. September 29. Candles were lit and people gathered in large numbers to pray for the departed souls. On 29th September 2018, 23 people were killed in the rush hour stampede on a narrow overbridge linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations during heavy rain.
In July this year, the Western Railway renamed Elphinstone Road station to Prabhadevi station. The decision came into effect from the midnight of July 18. Elphinstone Road Station Is Now Prabhadevi, Western Railway Removes British-era Name.
According to reports, the stampede took place around 10.40am when the overbridge was teeming with people taking shelter from a sudden downpour. Soon after, in February 2018, a new Foot Over Bridge (FOB) that was constructed by India Army was inaugurated. The CCTV footage from 9 am to 11 am was also examined and the panel probed each movement very minutely. After Elphinstone Is Renamed as Prabhadevi, Demands to Name Matunga and Kings Circle After Gods Grow.
In the wake of the mishap, a five-member inquiry panel, led by Western Railway (WR) Chief Safety Officer S K Singla, submitted its report and recommendations to WR General Manager Anil Kumar. According to details by WR Chief PRO Ravinder Bhakar, the chaos took place after a vendor shouted in Marathi "phool padla" which means flowers have fallen but people misunderstood it as "pul gir gaya" or the bridge has collapsed. He said none of the witnesses supported the claim that the chaos was caused by a short circuit on the bridge.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 10:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).