The Killer ‘Kasab’ Foot Overbridge of Mumbai
The bridge, popularly known as ‘Kasab’ bridge, as the terrorist also used the bridge during the 26/11 infamous Mumbai attack, was constructed in the year 1980. The blame game continues between the government and the richest corporation of the country.
6 people were killed and more than 31 injured, when a portion of the foot overbridge outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) collapsed during busy hours on Thursday evening.
Among the dead, three nurses from Gokaldas Tejpal or GT Hospital were also there. The dead have been identified as Apoorva Prabhu, Ranjana Tambe, Bhakti Shinde, Zahid Shiraj Khan, Tapendra Singh and Mohan Kayagunde.
The foot overbridge is the only way for the commuters to connect them to the platforms at the north end of the terminus, which also connects to the BT Lane near Azad Maidan Police station.
The bridge, popularly known as ‘Kasab’ bridge, as the terrorist also used the bridge during the 26/11 infamous Mumbai attack, was constructed in the year 1980. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC renovated it in the year 2016 with granite tiles, which also added to its weight. The audit of the foot overbridge also gave a clean bill of its structural health.
When a slab of the bridge collapse at around 7.30pm many commuters started plummeting and crushed over pedestrians as the vehicles pass beneath the bridge. The local bystanders promptly rush to help the injured and took them to GT, St George and Bombay Hospitals even before fire brigade team reached the spot.
Eyewitnesses said that the red signal beneath the bridge saved the lives of many motorists as well who would have been otherwise crushed by the collapse. The local people also said that the overbridge is being used in spite of the repair work being carried out since morning.
After the incident, traffic on the stretch has been badly affected and the road was closed and the commuters have been advised to avoid DN Road and use alternate routes.
A day later to Mumbai’s foot overbridge collapse, in a move to show some action the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has suspended 2 officials, the supervisor of the structural audit, who has conducted the audit six months ago and gave a clean bill and a supervisor of the repair work.
In its preliminary report released by the BMC, says six months ago the structural audit was conducted irresponsibly and negligently and the audit failed to point out the impending failure. The blame game continues between the government and the richest corporation of the country at the cost of many lives.