Commuters were going about their regular day when disaster struck in the form of a stampede on one of most crowded bridges, between Elphinstone Road and Parel on 29 September. The incident claimed as many as 23 people and left several grievously injured.
The government is being blamed for its negligence as people had been complaining about the terrible conditions of the over-bridge for a long time. It was pouring heavily on that fateful day, the bridge was more crowded than usual as people were not carrying umbrellas and were waiting inside the bridge to escape the downpour.
While the probe at the origin of the stampede is currently underway and measures are being taken to improve the conditions of the bridge, a survivor of the incident has put forward a few claims regarding the same.
A 19-year-old student, Shilpa Vishwakarma, has come forward with a few revelations about the incident as she was among the victims who survived the tragedy. Recalling her horrifying fight to survival to Mirror, Shilpa said,
“There were several people behind me and I was almost pushed upwards by the crowd. I somehow managed to reach the middle of the bridge, when a man carrying a flower basket dropped it near the ticket booking area.
He screamed ‘Maajhe phool padle’ (My flowers fell) and we all thought he said ‘pul padla (the bridge fell) and everyone started running down the bridge.”
As the panic spread, several people including Shilpa, fell and were crushed in the stampede. Shilpa was stuck under the bodies which fell on her and was struggling to breathe. She was miraculously saved by a person who pulled her out, but unfortunately died themself.
Shilpa sustained several injuries on her hands and legs including internal swelling in the kidneys and stomach. She was given Rs 50,000 as compensation when she contacted the Western Railways and recorded her statement before the inquiry committee.
You can watch the whole video of her interview here:
The incident which could have been prevented, had the authorities taken timely action and not waited before lives were lost, has now made a mark in the minds of the people in the form of a traumatic incident which will haunt them through their daily commute.
