Bridge crash, heavy rains cripple Mumbai
MUMBAI: Mumbai was crippled for the second time in less than a month after a section of a foot overbridge (FOB) crashed over the Western Railway tracks at Andheri following Tuesday’s heavy rains which left many areas of the city flooded, playing havoc with road and rail traffic.
But a much bigger potential disaster was averted when Chandrashekhar Sawant, the alert motorman of a Churchgate-dahanu train, saw the bridge collapsing and applied emergency brakes barely 50-60 metres away.
The heroic deed of Sawant earned accolades from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal — who visited the crash site this evening — and he announced a reward of Rs 500,000, plus a felicitation later.
Around 7.30 am at the height of morning peak hours, Mumbai commuters were left shocked when a portion of the Gokhale Bridge, connecting the east-west over the Andheri station, suddenly caved in trapping at least five persons, and paralysing the suburban and longdistance train services on the Western Railways.
Coming nine months after the Elphinstone Road FOB crash and stampede that left 23 commuters dead, Tuesday’s incident instilled fear among the commuters, especially since at least three jam-packed locals had passed seconds before the bridge crash.
Coupled with torrential overnight rains, the crash severely hit Mumbai’s lifeline — the suburban train services which ferry around eight million commuters daily.