Amid the festive season rush, Bandra Terminus witnessed a stampede as an overwhelming number of passengers gathered, expecting special trains. Thane Central Railway’s Deputy Commissioner Manoj Nana Patil attributed the incident to the anticipated arrival of two unreserved trains announced by Central Railway. However, when one of the scheduled special trains failed to arrive, the crowd surged toward the weekly Antyodaya Express, leading to chaos.
Deputy Commissioner Patil explained that the Antyodaya Express, a weekly unreserved train that typically runs on Sundays, is popular due to its affordability, consistently drawing large crowds. This week, due to Diwali, passenger numbers were notably higher. The absence of the expected special train escalated the crowd’s intensity, with many people hastily rushing for seats. “Our team was on-site, but the rush was unmanageable. Thankfully, no one was critically injured, and we are investigating the matter,” Patil stated.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed that at least eight passengers sustained injuries during the stampede at Bandra Terminus, although no severe cases were reported. Authorities continue to assess crowd management protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
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