Five dead as foot-bridge collapses in India

Fire brigade officers clear debris after a footbridge collapsed outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station in Mumbai, India, on March 14, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

The death toll in the foot-bridge collapse in India's financial capital of Mumbai has risen to five including three women, media reported late Thursday.

The collapse also caused 32 people injured.

Constructed in 1980, the foot-bridge collapsed during peak hours on Thursday evening at around 7:30 pm. It was linked to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, one of the busiest railway stations in India.

In a statement, the Ministry of Railways said, "The bridge was of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). However, we are extending all our support to the victims. Railway doctors & personnel are cooperating with BMC in relief & rescue operations."

Expressing anguish on the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing that the injured recover at the earliest. The Maharashtra Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected."

Expressing grief at the incident, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, "We have ordered high-level enquiry. This bridge was constructed in 1980. This bridge was found 'fit' in the structural audit. We are finding out who is responsible for this audit. We will take strict action against those responsible. Ex-gratia of 7,210 U.S. dollars to the relative of deceased and 721 U.S. dollars to injured. Preliminary enquiry report will come soon."

Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, India's South Western state.

Following the collapse of Gokhale bridge in Mumbai's suburb Andheri in last July, the city municipal corporation decided to conduct a structural audit of 296 bridges in the city. Based on the findings of the report, 18 bridges including eight foot-over bridges were to be demolished and reconstructed. Six-one bridges needed major repairs, 107 needed minor repairs while 110 were found to be in good condition.