At least three persons were injured after a portion of a foot overbridge crashed onto the Western Railway tracks in Mumbai’s Andheri area during Tuesday morning peak hours, creating a scare among the commuters.
The bridge, known as Gokhale Bridge, is located on SV Road and connects Andheri East and Andheri West. The crash has affected the suburban train services, an official told IANS.
Heavy overnight rains and waterlogging in many areas is suspected to be the cause of the crash.
There was no immediate confirmation whether the injured were commuters or pedestrians. Rescue operations continued to save those trapped under the debris.
Part of Road Over Bridge collapsed in #Mumbai's Andheri West: NDRF team, with dog squad, is present at the spot. 2 people have been rescued from under the debris so far. Total 6 injures have been reported. Rescue operation underway. pic.twitter.com/6aI3x0c2bf
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2018
“Directed officials to speed up repair work and rapidly restore traffic in close coordination with other departments. I have also ordered an enquiry by Commissioner of Rail Safety,” Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted.
Operations are on to remove the debris from the Western Railway tracks which has blocked services in both directions. The Western Railway stated that trains were being operated between Goregaon-Virar on the northern side and Bandra-Churchgate in the southern direction, besides Harbour Line from Bandra-CST.
According to a railway spokesperson CNK David, the portion of the bridge crashed at around 7.30 a.m. on the southern end of the Andheri platform numbers 7-8.
The falling bridge damaged a portion of the platform roof, blocked the railway lines and damaged the high-tension electric wires and overhead power equipment, he said.
"The restoration work is in full swing and we hope to resume normal train services in the next few hours," David said.
As a precautionary measure, Mumbai Police have stopped all traffic above and below the bridge till the green signal from the Western Railway.
Mumbai's Dabbawalas have suspended all their tiffin box deliveries on Tuesday on the Western Railway routes but would continue on other routes.
(With inputs from IANS)