No one knows exactly how and why this tragedy took place. But everyone knows it was inevitable. A six-foot-wide staircase, 30-odd steps — some broken — and hundreds of people cramped into that confined space. Something had to give, and it finally did on this fateful Friday.
Thousands of Mumbaikars climb this narrow staircase at Elphinstone Railway Station every day en route to their offices in Lower Parel, a hub of the city's business activity. Today, at least 22 of them lost their lives in a stampede at the foot of the staircase during rush hour. Some say it was the rain, some say it was a rumour of a short circuit, some say it was people in a mighty hurry. The truth is still to be told, but one thing is certain - while Mumbai's trains are notorious for being overcrowded inside the compartment, the world found out today that life outside the train can be equally dangerous.
Two hours on, there are no signs of a tragedy. No blood and no tears. If anything, it's business as usual. Apart from the heavy police and media presence, a bunch of garlands lying on the grass below the stairwell is the only sign that something is amiss. A number of vendors from the nearby Dadar flower market were believed to be on the bridge at the time of the tragedy.
Commuters are sad but not surprised. For them, it was a disaster waiting to happen. They know full well that their own lives could have been at stake and are grateful that it wasn't them.
Every five minutes, a train pulls into the adjoining platform. And every five minutes, people alight and converge into a yet another narrow staircase. They have all heard about the disaster that transpired a stone's throw away. But it makes no difference. There is still shouting, screaming and pushing as each one jostles to reach the overbridge first. People have things to do and places to be - after all, this is the city that never stops.
They pause and stare at the police and relief personnel, but then proceed down the same set of stairs where their fellow citizens were crushed to death two hours ago.
"Kya karein?" says one office-goer with an air of acceptance. He says he has no choice but to risk his life every day to get to and from work. But it shouldn't be a risk. And in the aftermath of this disaster, it is one the many issues that the authorities will have to address. Mumbaikars will now keenly await the next course of action of Elphinstone Railway Station - will they get a wider staircase or will the signboards be changed to the recently-approved name of Prabhadevi?
Until then, life will go on in the city. It always does.
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