Mumbai bridge collapse: Popular banana seller at centre of bridge survives

MUMBAI: Atmaram Yedge (32) is a well-known face among commuters at CST. He sells bananas on the bridge every day without fail between 5pm and 8pm. On Thursday, too, he was at his regular spot-at the centre of the bridge- when it came crashing down. His relatives feared the worst, but were relieved to learn he had survived the fall with injuries to his back, head and arms. Also lucky to survive was his nephew Nilesh, who had just crossed the bridge and was decending the stairs.

Four other regular vendors on the bridge also escaped with injuries.

Yegde's relatives who were waiting outside G T hospital's orthopaedic ward on the first floor couldn't stop their tears; they had feared the worse since eyewitnesses had told them that he could be one of the casualties. On reaching G T, they "I just spoke to him and walked away. Suddenly there was this deafening sound. I turned back and saw the bridge had vanished and so had my uncle," he said. Nilesh rushed down but couldn't spot his uncle in the chaos. "I met him only at the hospital," he said. Yegde, father to a four-year-old, is a Vashi resident and has been hawking at the spot for the past six years. His relatives said he was conscious while being pulled out of the debris.

Most people commuting through CST must have met Atmaram Yedge (32) at least once. He is the banana vendor who has been sitting on the bridge every evening without a break between 5pm and 8pm. On Thursday, too, he was at his regular spot—at the centre of the bridge—when it came crashing. Other than Atmaram, four other regular vendors who sold bhel, peanuts, garbage bags and plastic ware, have survived too. Babu Mogre, the peanut seller, was saved as he was seated at the farthest end of the bridge.

Yegde’s relatives who were waiting outside G T hospital’s orthopaedic ward on the first floor couldn’t stop their tears; they had feared the worse since eyewitnesses had told them that he could be one of the casualties. On reaching G T, they learnt that he had survived the fall with injuries to his back, head and arms. Lucky to survive was also his nephew Nilesh, who had just crossed the bridge and had barely stepped on the first stair when it collapsed. “I just spoke to him and walked away. Suddenly there was this deafening sound. I turned back and saw the bridge had vanished and so had my uncle,” he said. Nilesh rushed down but couldn’t spot his uncle in the chaos. “I met him only at the hospital,” he said. Yegde, father to a four-year-old, is a Vashi resident and has been hawking at the spot for the past six years. His relatives said he was conscious while being pulled out of the debris.