A foot overbridge collapsed on Thursday evening near the landmark Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station in Mumbai, killing six and injuring at least 33 others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was anguished by the loss of lives. "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the foot overbridge accident in Mumbai. 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," he said.
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the foot overbridge accident in Mumbai. 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2019
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was "pained" to hear about the incident.
"Pained to hear about the FOB incident near TOI building in Mumbai. Spoke to BMC Commissioner and @MumbaiPolice officials and instructed to ensure speedy relief efforts in coordination with @RailMinIndia officials," his tweet read.
Pained to hear about the FOB incident near TOI building in Mumbai.
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) March 14, 2019
Spoke to BMC Commissioner and @MumbaiPolice officials and instructed to ensure speedy relief efforts in coordination with @RailMinIndia officials.
Among the Union Ministers, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in a post, called the incident "deeply saddening", and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal also expressed his "sincere condolences to the families of the victims".
The collapse of a foot Overbridge in Mumbai is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones in this accident. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 14, 2019
Railway Minister @PiyushGoyal expresses his sincere condolences to the family of the victims in Mumbai Bridge Collapse. Railway doctors and personnel are cooperating with BMC in relief and rescue operations.
— Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) March 14, 2019
But the bridge collapse has also sparked a political blame game as it is the third such incident in less than two years in Mumbai.
Mr Fadnavis clarified that a safety audit was carried out on the CSMT bridge six months ago, after the Andheri bridge collapse last year.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted saying: "Modi Govt & Mah. Govt are criminally culpable for inaction leading to repeat tragedies."
Deeply saddened to learn about the #MumbaiBridgCollapse where several people are still reportedly trapped.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 14, 2019
My deepest condolences to the families of innocent victims of this terrible tragedy. Hope administration takes swift action & provides urgent medical help to injured. 1/2
Modi Govt & Mah. Govt are criminally culpable for inaction leading to repeat tragedies-:
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 14, 2019
29/9/2017-Elphistone Stampede.
3/7/2018-Andheri Bridge Collapse.
Rly Min's tall claims of Audit have failed time and again.
Rly Min, Piyush Goyal must resign or be sacked.
2/2
Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet in Hindi, said he was extremely saddened to hear about the incident. "I send condolences to the families of the people killed in the incident and wish speedy recovery to the people injured in the collapse," his tweet read.
However, State Congress Chief Ashok Chavan had earlier tweeted: "Shocked to hear about the tragedy in which many people lost their Iives due to Footover Bridge collapse at CSMT. Praying for the speedy recovery of all those who are injured. Demand strong action against those responsible for such negligent administration which cost human lives."
While Arvind Kejriwal asked the volunteers of the Aam Admi Party volunteers to help in rescue efforts, the AAP on the official Twitter handle, with a report of the incident, tweeted: "Prayers with the victims of #MumbaiBridgeCollapse. How many more times will the common man of mumbai will be crushed under such wreckages ?"
Extremely sad news coming from Mumbai on the FoB collapse near CST
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 14, 2019
Prayers with the families of victims
Hope there is no further loss of lives.
All our volunteers should immediately help in relief and rescue operations
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray shared a statement where he pinned the blame on authorities.
#MumbaiBridgeCollapse pic.twitter.com/wuKeGyYD6A
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) March 14, 2019
In a statement, the Ministry of Railways had earlier stressed that it was not responsible for the bridge maintenance. "The bridge was under the ambit of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). However, we're extending all our supports to the victims. Railway doctors & personnel are cooperating with BMC in relief and rescue operations," the Railways ministry was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The CSMT bridge, near the landmark Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus - a UNESCO heritage site, was built in 1984.
The injured have been taken to St George's Hospital and GT Hospital. Two women, who were killed today in the collapse, worked at the GT Hospital.
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