Mumbai: A stampede at Bandra Terminus left nine people injured as passengers rushed to board a train bound for Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, during the heavy pre-Diwali rush.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the incident occurred on platform number 1 as travelers gathered for the delayed Gorakhpur Express, originally scheduled to depart at 5:10 AM. The train arrived late, causing a surge of passengers to crowd the platform around 3 AM, which led to the stampede.
Among the injured, two individuals are reported to be in critical condition, while the remaining seven are stable. The train, which has 22 unreserved coaches, drew over 1,000 passengers, with some attempting to board while it was still moving, resulting in injuries.
More than 50 police officers were deployed on Platform 1 to manage the crowd. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with blood visible on the platform as Railway Police and other passengers assisted the injured onto stretchers. In one video, a railway officer was seen carrying an injured passenger, while another depicted two men lying on the ground, blood-stained and in distress.
Efforts to provide aid included several people using a large cloth as a makeshift stretcher to transport an injured individual. One passenger was observed sitting on a bench with a torn shirt, clearly in pain.
The BMC later confirmed that the situation is now under control and that the injured have been taken to Bhabha Hospital for treatment. Among those hurt, one suffered a spinal fracture while others had leg fractures; two passengers have since been discharged.
