Elphinstone stampede probe: Bombay HC asks petitioners to make NIA, Western Railways party

Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed petitioners to make the National Investigation Agency and Western Railways a party in a matter seeking probe by the agency into the stampede on the foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road station. It has asked for notices to be issued to them so they can file replies in the matter. The matter has been kept for hearing in three weeks.

On September 29, a stampede on the foot overbridge at the station left 23 dead and over 30 injured.

The PIL filed by city residents Faisal Banaraswala and Abdul Qureshi sought the railways to remove bottlenecks on such bridges, clear pathways, install escalators and create multiple entry and exit points. “Several commuters who take the bridge on a regular basis had warned railway officials and the government via letters and tweets about the condition of the bridge. But no action was taken,” the PIL said.