Part of unused Charni Road station FOB collapses, one suffers minor injuries

Mumbai: A slab of an unused foot overbridge (FOB) at Charni Road, which connects to the station, collapsed on Saturday evening. While there were no fatalities, according to the police who reached the spot, one person who was passing by the bridge suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital where he was administered primary treatment.  The incident occurred at the Churchgate end of the Charni Road station  at around 8.05 pm.

The incident has gained importance in light of the stampede at the Elphinstone station FOB last month, which killed 23 people.

Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Arvind Sawant said he had been asking the railways and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to look into the condition of the bridge and get it repaired. “Even after officials from both the BMC and railways visited the site, nothing was done thereafter,” said Mr Sawant.

Railway sources said access to the FOB had been shut by the the municipal corporation almost one and a half years ago. Western Railway chief public relations officer Ravindra Bhakar said, “It falls outside railway premises and we have informed the BMC of the incident.”

Meanwhile, a civic official said, “The demolition and reconstruction of the FOB was already in progress by the bridge department. However, traffic police has allowed phase-wise works. Meanwhile, a portion of the steps collapsed.”

Senior police inspector S. Kamble said, “The area has been cordoned off to avoid injury to any unsuspecting passerby till the BMC officials inspect the site.” The injured person was identified as Dongar Singh Ramchandra Rao (67).