Heavy rain responsible for Elphinstone bridge stampede, says probe panel

Mumbai: Heavy rain has been held responsible for the stampede that took place on Elphinstone bridge in Mumbai on September 29 in Mumbai.

After recording statements of 30 commuters who were injured in the stampede, the panel, headed by the Western Railway chief security officer, submitted its report to WR General Manager Anil Kumar. It has also examined video footage of the incident, officials said.

According to the report submitted on Wednesday, the cause of the stampede that killed 23 people was heavy rains which forced people outside at the ticket counters to rush to the already jammed staircase for cover.

The report said the constant flow of passengers arriving at the station compounded the problem and people with heavy luggage lost their balance.

It also states that none of the witnesses said that a short circuit on the bridge led to the chaos. 

The probe panel made recommendations that passengers should avoid carrying heavy luggage during peak hours. The movement of commuters, mainly vendors, carrying baskets stuffed with goods during peak hours should also be restricted.

The panel also recommended that the booking office should be relocated to widen the staircase and an additional staircase can also be provided.

The report states that officials should have a quicker mode mode of communication apart from mobile phones to ensure timely reaction. Wireless handsets can be provided to station and security staff, the report said.