Stampede-like scenes at Santacruz railway station, commuters jittery

Updated On: 10 March, 2022 07:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar

Shut staircases, debris-filled railway platforms are giving commuters the jitters and raise fears of a repeat of the Elphinstone tragedy

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A crowded foot overbridge after two others are shut for repairs, at Santacruz station. Pic/Sameer Markande

The scenes from Santacruz railway station on Wednesday looked eerily similar to the overcrowded foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road station, where a stampede in 2017 claimed over 20 lives. Speaking with mid-day, commuters said the debris and closure of two bridges on platforms 3 and 4 created a disastrous situation during the morning rush. The railways opened one bridge after the complaints.

The railways shut an entire foot overbridge, an old one, and blocked a staircase of another for repairs and work related to construction of an escalator, leaving little space for people to walk on the island platform.

Commuters walk next to the dug up portion of platforms 3, 4. Pic/Rajendra B. Aklekar