The overhead pedestrian bridge, called Kasab Bridge, collapsed around 7.35 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019. According to the BMC Disaster Control, the bridge was reportedly overloaded with commuters hurrying to their homes.
The bridge connects the CSMT's suburban platform No. 1 with the B.T. Lane near The Times of India Building and the Anjuman-e-Islam School. Thousands of daily commuters use to this bridge to catch the local trains on Central Railway and the Harbour Line.
The incident killed at least 6 people. The victims were Apoorva Prabhu, 35, Ranjana Tambe, 40, and Bhakti Shinde, 40, Zahid Siraj Khan, 32 and Tapendra Singh, 35, while the sixth person is yet to be identified. The injured were rushed to the St. George Hospital and G. T. Hospital, besides Sion Hospital, said officials.
Politicians from several parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena, the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and others rushed to the site and activists helped in the rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the deaths and said the Maharashtra government is providing all possible assistance to all those affected.
Officials claimed that the bridge was found to be sturdy after a recent structural audit and only needed a few minor repairs.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal expressed "sincere condolences to the family of the victims" and said the railway doctors and personnel are assisting the local authorities to grapple with the tragedy.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was "pained" to hear of the tragedy, and spoke to BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Mumbai Police and instructed them to ensure speedy relief efforts.
On the other hand, former Union Minister Milind Deora said it was absolutely unacceptable that the bridge collapsed just six months after a structural audit and demanded a case of murder be lodged against the BMC officials responsible for this negligence.
Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan also demanded stringent action against the officials responsible for negligent administration which cost five human lives. While NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik condoled the deaths and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
After the two previous tragedies, the BMC, the Railways and other agencies had carried out a survey of all new and old railway bridges, flyovers, and foot over bridges, to ascertain any dangers and take preventive measures.
On account of the falling debris, peak hour traffic towards Byculla and Dadar and beyond was diverted, creating massive snarls across south Mumbai. Rail traffic remained unaffected. Work on removing the debris was on in full swing and the traffic was expected to be restored on the D. N. Road towards north Mumbai shortly, an official said.
35-year-old cab driver Akhtar Ansari shared how he managed to escape unhurt along with a woman passenger, whom he was ferrying. He said, "The moment I reached underneath the foot-over-bridge, a part of it collapsed and came crashing down on my car, which was completely damaged. Somehow I managed to open the door and get out, and also helped the passenger to move out. Luckily we escaped unhurt."
A 32-year-old banana seller survived with some injuries, while his nephew escaped, because he had just crossed the foot overbridge at CSMT when it fell on Thursday.
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