Mumbai: Trains halted after part of bridge collapses in Andheri

Trains have been halted after a part of the Gokhale Bridge connecting Andheri East to West collapsed on tracks near Andheri Station in Mumbai on Tuesday morning.

Two passers-by were reportedly injured in the incident, civic sources said.

Some people are suspected to be trapped under the debris and a search is underway, chief fire officer P.S. Rahangdale said.

An ambulance, a rescue van, and four fire engines are at the spot, he said.

The foot overbridge that was part of the Gokhale Bridge collapsed on tracks near Andheri Station towards Vile Parle on South end. It has been reported that overhead equipment (OHE) has been damaged. The ROB collapsed near the eastern side of the Andheri Railway Station around 7.30 am, an official of the BMC's disaster management cell said.

A Western Railway official said that traffic on Western Line have been held up due to the collapse of the foot overbridge. Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of the Central Railway told ANI that trains on Central Railway's main, harbour and transharbour lines are running normally.

"It's part of Gokhale Bridge that connects Andheri East and Andheri West. We are at the spot and trying to check with the locals if someone is missing as they might be trapped under the debris,” said officials of Mumbai Fire Brigade.

Office-goers, for whom local trains are the lifeline for daily commuting, bore the maximum brunt of the incident as many of them could not reach their work places.

Mumbai's famous tiffin carriers Dabbawalas expressed their inability to operate as the train services on the Western Line were stopped.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the Mumbai police commissioner to ensure smooth traffic movement and asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to increase its bus service for the convenience of commuters.

"Incessant rains apparently caused cracks in the ROB, resulting in its collapse. Thankfully, no train was passing on the track under the bridge at that time," he said.

Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and some neighbouring areas since late last night, causing water-logging in low-lying areas and disruptions in vehicular movement on some roads.

Some local train services on the harbour corridor of the Central Railway were also affected, as a few trains of the Central Railways pass through the WR route.

The chief minister asked the Mumbai Police and the BMC to ensure smooth movement of the traffic.

"CM @Dev_Fadnavis spoke to @CPMumbaiPolice and BMC commissioner on #GokhaleBridgeCollapse incident. CM asked CP to ensure smooth traffic movement and also asked BMC commissioner to increase frequency of BEST buses for convenience of commuters. #MumbaiRains," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a tweet.

In September 2017, 22 commuters lost their lives following a stampede at Elphinstone road railway bridge in Mumbai. A spell of very heavy rain is said to have caused rumours of a short circuit among thousands of commuters who were on the railway bridge after alighting the suburban railway network.

(With agency inputs)