Stampede-like situation at Thane railway station after severe storm
Passengers struggle to board a train at Thane Railway Station amidst a stampede caused by heavy rainfall and a sandstorm.
A chaotic scene unfolded at Thane Railway Station on May 13 as heavy rainfall and a sandstorm led to delays in local train services. A video of the incident circulated on social media platform X, depicting a stampede outside the ladies’ compartment as passengers attempted to board the train. The footage also showed women struggling to get back up after falling on the platform.
Thane Railway station today after the storm. pic.twitter.com/F4fmR3IMRL
— Cow Momma (@Cow__Momma) May 13, 2024
Local train services on the Central Railway were suspended for over two hours on May 13 due to damage to overhead equipment caused by the storm and heavy rains. Mumbai and neighbouring areas like Thane, Kalyan, and Palghar experienced severe weather conditions.
Strong winds bent the overhead pole between Thane and Mulund stations, leading to the suspension of services around 4:15 pm. It wasn’t until around 6:45 pm that slow train services resumed, causing significant inconvenience to commuters during peak evening rush hours.
In another unfortunate incident in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, a 100-foot illegal billboard collapsed on a petrol pump at Chedda Nagar Junction, resulting in the tragic death of 14 people. According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 74 individuals have been rescued with injuries. The Mumbai police have registered a case against the owner of the hoarding, Bhavesh Bhide, and others under IPC sections 304, 338, 337, and 34.
The illegal hoarding, measuring 120×120 square feet, exceeded the maximum size permitted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which allows holdings of up to 40×40 square feet. Following the incident, BMC officials announced plans to dismantle the remaining hoardings on Government Railway Police (GRP) land at Chheda Nagar.
