At the Mumbai Bandra terminus this morning, nine people were injured in stampede of which two were in a critical condition. The chaos unfolded as passengers rushed to board the Bandra-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express, which was scheduled to depart at 5:15 AM.
There were about 1’500 passionate travelers on the platform, many of them showed up as early as on the night of September 10th to get unreserved seats in the 22 carriages of the train. Before getting close, people started fainting, and a few fell on the track and started another stampede making many passengers get hurts.
Political Reactions and Criticism
Following the event, Aaditya Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) and the son of the previous Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray demagogically criticized Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Hear, Thackeray described the minister as ‘incapable,’ pointing out that such cases brought out the worst in the present government. He said, “Wish the reel minister was a rail minister for once,” this was in reference to the current challenges that has plagued the railways with Vaishnaw leading the sector. This statement is just part of an extended narrative from the side of the opposition, which has recently often attracted attention to railway accidents and operational problems.
Vaishnaw, who has recently been given the charge of the BJP’s Maharashtra unit as the party ’s campaign in-charge for the upcoming Assembly polls, has seen the heat building up on him to buckle up on issues relating to the safety of the passengers in the backdrop of emergent concerns. The criticism targets the numerous impressions being echoed among the public and political rivals regarding the efficacy of railway performance – during festivals, for instance, Diwali.
Causes of the Stampede
The railway officials insisted that the stampede arose more or less from the rush of people who wanted to get into the train before its movement. As people prepare for the holiday season, it is traditional for many individuals to visit railway stations for travelling, which can lead to many problems such as crowdedness. Earlier it had been planned to put more trains and staff on duty but unfortunately the number of passengers generated was much beyond the anticipated, hence this regrettable incident of stampede.
Official Response and Safety Measures
Subsequently, a Railways spokesperson said that special trains are available depending on the festive season. It also stressed the issue of boarding etiquette and urged passengers to report to the railway personnel. “Passengers should move into the trains orderly, and must not push one another, and this should be done through ticketing. Passengers have been advised not to board moving trains, said the official, emphasizing the importance of being cautious in order to prevent accidents.
Conclusion
The Bandra stampede serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for improved safety measures in Indian Railways, especially during peak travel times. As political debates intensify, the focus now shifts to ensuring that railway authorities implement effective crowd management strategies and enhance passenger safety protocols to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
