Mumbai rains: Local train traffic on Harbour line restored; relief for Mumbai Univ students who missed exams today
The incident took place at about 7.30 am. Local train services between Virar and Churchgate have been suspended as the debris fell on the rail tracks.
A part of a road overbridge collapsed in Andheri as incessant rains lashed Mumbai and adjoining areas since Tuesday morning, throwing normal life out of gear. Train services of the Western Railway were severely affected due to the bridge collapse crippling commutation during morning rush hours. At least five people were injured in the incident which took place at about 7.30 am.
The heavy downpour caused waterlogging in the low-lying areas of Hindmata, Sion, Parel TT, Nehru Nagar, Kurla, Bhandup, Wadala, Dharavi, Andheri and Mulund.
"It's part of Gokhale bridge that connects Andheri east and Andheri west. We are at the spot and trying to check with the locals if some one is missing as they might be trapped under the debris," an official of the Mumbai Fire Brigade said. Mumbai has been receiving incessant rains for the last couple of days resulting in water logging in several areas.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said he has ordered an enquiry in to the incident. "Part of Road Over Bridge has fallen on tracks near Andheri Station impacting rail traffic. Directed officials to speed up repair work and rapidly restore traffic in close coordination with other departments. I have also ordered an enquiry by Commissioner of Rail Safety," Goyal tweeted.
HELPLINE numbers: Andheri - 022676 30054; Churchgate - 02267622540; Borivali-02267634053; Mumbai Central - 02267644257
UPDATES:
# Local train traffic on Harbour line has been restored. Railways is working to reinstate all remaining railway sections too.
# Mumbai University announces that those who have missed their exams on Tuesday due to heavy rain and suspension of local services due to bridge collapse will be allowed to write their exams again. Revised schedule for the exams will be announced soon.
# Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is running 14 extra buses between Borivali to Churchgate in view of commuters facing trouble due to suspension of local train services after bridge collapse at Andheri.
# 5 injured sent to hospital. Don't think anyone is trapped under debris. Railway administration, RPF, GRP, City Police are present abd clearance of debris underway. Railway will probably starting functioning in next 4 hours: R Kudvalkar,Railway Protection Force on Andheri bridge collapse.
# Rescue work has been hampered by heavy rains in the area. Fire bride, NDRF teams facing difficulties in clearing the debris blocking the rail tracks.
# Central railway has extended routes of some locals to clear extra rush from Ghatkopar station after part of road overbridge collapsed in Andheri West.
Overhead Equipment (OHE) were also damaged in the overbridge collapse and a team of engineers swung into action to restore it, chief PRO of Western Railway Ravinder Bhakar told PTI.
"A part of the FOB has collapsed which resulted the halt in all our up and down services of Western Railway. Our officers have reached to the spot and accessing the situation," he said.
Dabbawalas, who supply Tiffin boxes to the working professionals, have also expressed their inability to work today, as the all the four lines of the Western Railway suburban services have come to halt.
The Andheri bridge collapse was reminiscent of last year's incident when a stampede triggered by a rumour that the foot overbridge at Mumbai's Elphinstone Railway Station in Parel in the suburban section of Western Railway has collapsed killed 22 people and injured dozens of others. The tragic incident took place on September 29, 2017 when commuters on the overcrowded bridge panicked upon hearing a rumour that a bridge had collapsed.
Elphinstone stampede in Mumbai: Why and How it happened
The bridge collapse at Andheri station has once again brought into focus the poor maintenance of foot overbridges, particularly at railways stations, across Mumbai. Some of the bridges are nearly hundred years old.
WATCH: Overbridge collapses in Mumbai's Andheri