22 Dead, 32 Injured In Stampede At Mumbai’s Elphinstone Station 

Mumbai: Fifteen people are dead and at least 32 seriously injured in a stampede that broke out at a narrow foot over-bridge near a local train station in Mumbai after heavy rain started suddenly on Friday morning.

The incident took place around 9.30am during rush hour near a ticket window between the Lower Parel and Elphinstone stations. According to a railway spokesperson, four trains came at the same time and due to the rain, a few women commuters slipped, which triggered chaos in the surging crowd.

"We are still inquiring into the exact reasons. It happened on the narrow staircase. All the injured were rushed to the nearest hospitals," said police officer Niket Kaushik.

Visuals showed people on the ground, some not moving at all, and attempts to revive them with water and first aid. Passengers and local people were seen carrying the injured down the bridge. A pile of footwear was lying next to the bridge. The police were trying to control the crowd of commuters.

The two stations are used by much of Mumbai's local train commuters as there are a large number of offices in the area.

Asked what the trigger was, a western railways official said: "Because of the rain, two trains came here, two on central line. Four trains came at the same time."

Reports suggest there have been calls for repairing the bridge, which is too old and narrow and not strong enough to take the busy sector. "It was a disaster waiting to happen," remarked a local resident.