Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has ordered a ‘high level enquiry’ headed by the Chief Safety Officer of Western Railways in the stampede at Parel railway station that has claimed 22 lives.
“Just landed in Mumbai. Deeply grieved at tragic loss of innocent lives due to an unfortunate stampede at Elphinstone Road foot over bridge. Have ordered a high level enquiry headed by the Chief Safety Officer, Western Railways,” Goyal tweeted.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured persons,” he said in another tweet.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Goyal would himself monitor the situation closely.
“My deepest condolences to all those who have lost their lives due to the stampede in Mumbai. Prayers with those who are injured,” Modi tweeted.
“Situation in Mumbai is being continuously monitored. @PiyushGoyal is in Mumbai taking stock of the situation & ensuring all assistance,” he added.
At least 22 people lost their lives in a stampede that occurred on a foot-over bridge at Parel railway station in Mumbai, police said on Friday adding that 30 people were injured.
The accident occurred on the bridge connecting Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations at around 10.30 am during peak rush hour, police added.
The cause of the stampede on the narrow footover bridge was not known, but eyewitnesses claimed that a sudden rumour of a suspected electrical short-circuit sparked off a panic.