Mumbai: Tragedy happened to strike the city on the very day Union minister Piyush Goyal was all set to inaugurate 60 new services on the Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR). Mr Goyal said an inquiry would be carried out into the Friday morning stampede at the Parel-Elphinstone Road Foot Overbridge (FOB). The accident’s death toll — 22 so far — is higher than that of the Utkal derailment in Uttar Pradesh in August — 21 — in the wake of which railway minister Suresh Prabhu was asked to resign while 13 other senior rail officials were suspended.
Activist Nirmal Takemgarh said, “There should be strict action against officials who have known about the situation but have been unable to do anything about it.”
Addressing the media after he had paid a visit to the injured at KEM Hospital, Mr Goyal said “I have ordered a high-level inquiry headed by the chief safety officer of Western Railways.”
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has also promised strict action against those responsible. “An inquiry will be conducted by the state government and ministry of railways and the necessary, strict action will be taken,” he said.
Friday’s was Mr Goyal’s first inauguration in Mumbai since he took charge as railway minister.
Bereaved kin to get ex gratia
The kin of those who died in the Elphinstone railway station Foot Overbridge stampede will receive compensation of Rs 5 lakh each, by the Maharashtra government and the Railways.
The Railways will also give Rs 1 lakh to the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries and pay for the medical expenses of those being treated.
