Days after a stampede at Mumbai’s Bandra Terminus left ten people injured, newly released CCTV footage has captured the chaotic moments leading up to the incident. The stampede occurred as large crowds attempted to board the unreserved Bandra-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express train.
The footage, reportedly taken from a CCTV camera located at the north end of platform one, shows passengers jostling for space as the 22-coach train arrived from the railway yard around 2:44 AM on Sunday. The video reveals scenes of passengers losing their balance and desperately trying to enter the train, even attempting to squeeze through emergency exit windows. However, the footage does not depict the actual stampede.
The chaotic boarding situation is not unusual during the festive season, when such crowds are commonplace. In response to the increased passenger traffic, the Western Railway has been operating over 130 festival special trains to various destinations, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, in preparation for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals.
To mitigate the risk of overcrowding on platforms, authorities have restricted platform ticket sales at several key stations, including Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra Terminus, Borivali, Vasai Road, Vapi, Valsad, Udhna, and Surat. The Northern Railways has also advised passengers to arrive at least one hour before their scheduled train departure to ensure a smooth boarding process and avoid last-minute congestion.
Authorities are now working to implement further safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future as they strive to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers during this busy travel period.
Sources By Agencies
