LIVE! Very sad and a serious incident: Fadnavis on stampede

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Fri, 29 September 2017

Very sad and a serious incident: Fadnavis on stampede

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23:44 Very sad and a serious incident: Fadnavis on stampede

Calling the stampede on a foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road railway station in Mumbai a sad and serious incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tonight said that an inquiry will be done into the incident.

After coming to Mumbai from Singapore, Fadnavis directly went to the KEM hospital to meet injured persons.

"It was a very sad and a serious incident. An inquiry will be done into the incident," Fadnavis told the mediapersons.

"The railways ministry has started an audit of FOBs at all stations so that similar incident will not be repeated in the future," he said.

"I have given assurance to the railway ministry that the state government and local administration will do everything needed," he added.

Amid reports of bodies of Hindus being found in mass graves in Myanmar, India today hoped that the country will bring to justice those involved in the crime.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said as per the statement of the office of Myanmar's state counsellor, all the bodies found in these graves are of Hindus.

Stating that India has seen the press reports about these graves and looked at the official statement by the Myanmarese government, Kumar said the country condemns terrorism in all forms.

"We emphasise that there is no justification to any act of terrorism which targets civilians in this conflict. We hope authorities will be able to bring to justice perpetrators of the crime.

"We hope the families of the victims will be provided all possible assistance so as to instill a sense of security and return of normalcy," he said.

As per reports, these mass graves were found in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

"We have conveyed our concerns about the affected people to Myanmar. The affected families should be given appropriate compensation," said Kumar.

He also said that India and Bangladesh are in "close touch" over the Rohingiya issue.

23:17 BJP's Sambit Patra appointed to ONGC board

Bharatiya Janata Party's national spokesperson Sambit Patra was today appointed as non-official director on the board of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment to the post for a period of three years, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.

Other BJP leaders too have been appointed to the board of central public sector undertakings.

BJP leader Syed Zafar Islam was appointed as non- official independent director of Air India in May.

Islam, a former investment banker, joined the BJP on April 5, 2014.

Shazia Ilmi, former Aam Aadmi Party leader, was appointed as independent director in Engineers India Ltd (EIL) in January. At present, she is the vice-president of the BJP Delhi unit.

The saffron party's member from Gujarat, Asifa Khan, had also been made non-official independent director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Existing norms by the Securities and Exchange Board of India mandate companies to have at least 50 per cent of directors as non-executive or independent directors with at least one woman director.

Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier today signed a pact with budget carrier SpiceJet for sale of up to 50 turboprop jets valued at USD 1.7 billion.

Upon delivery, the airline will become the first in the world to operate a 90-seat turboprop, pending certification by regulatory authorities, Bombardier said in a release.

Owned by serial entrepreneur Ajay Singh, SpiceJet had in June this year announced plans to purchase up to 50 Bombardier Q400s worth USD 1.7 billion.

"We are very proud to firm up this agreement with SpiceJet. This repeat order will not only increase the Q400 aircraft fleet in the fast-growing regional market in India and in the Asia-Pacific region but will also launch the high-density 90-passenger model," Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Fred Cromer said.

He also said the order confirms the airline's increased capacity needs on regional routes with high passenger demand and demonstrates the increased profitability potential that this unique turboprop configuration has to offer.

Currently, SpiceJet has 20 Bombardier Q400 planes in a 78-seat configuration in its fleet besides 35 Boeing 737s.

The purchase agreement includes 25 Q400 turboprops and purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft, the release said.

"I am pleased to confirm SpiceJet's latest order for up to 50 Bombardier Q400 planes, which has been announced at the Paris Air Show. I am sure this fresh order will help us further enhance connectivity to smaller towns..." Singh, SpiceJet's chairman and managing director, said.

SpiceJet operates India's largest regional fleet and has always been a firm believer in the growth story of the country's smaller towns and cities, he added.

Police are examining CCTV footage and also the video clips shot by onlookers to find out what led to the deadly stampede on a railway footbridge at the Elphinstone Road station in Central Mumbai today morning.

"An Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been registered at the Dadar police station as the incident took place in the jurisdiction of city police," assistant commissioner of police Sunil Deshmukh told PTI.

Police have got hold of CCTV footage of the bridge, he said. "We are also approaching some eye-witnesses to get information about the incident," he added.

Some onlookers shot videos of the incident on mobile phones and police are seeking help from them for the investigation, he said.

Twenty-one of the 22 deceased have been identified while a woman's body remains unidentified, he said.

A Railway Protection Force official had said that the footbridge got overcrowded and became slippery due to rain, which caused panic.

"Due to sudden rain, people waited at the station. When the rain stopped, there was chaos as people rushed out," railways spokesperson Anil Saxena had said.

Police also suspected that a short-circuit with a loud sound near the bridge led to panic.

The Prasar Bharati has decided to phase out analog terrestrial TV transmitters of Doordarshan and move towards a digital network which will open the possibility of city-specific channels, the public broadcaster said today.

The in-principle approval was given to this effect at the Prasar Bharati board meeting recently.

"Landmark decision by Prasar Bharati to shutdown analog terrestrial TV transmitters of Doordarshan, which was long pending," Prasar Bharati, which runs Doordarshan, said in a tweet.

Quoting its CEO Shashi S Vempati, the public broadcaster said, "Long pending move, which, as per Prasar Bharati's own deadline, was to be completed by 2017".

In case of analog transmission, only one channel can be transmitted through a transponder whereas in case of digital transmission, multiple channels can be transmitted.

The digitisation could also open the possibility of new channels catering exclusively to cities, with local content like informing public about traffic jams or weather reports.

"Viewers can watch city specific channels with a digital network," the Prasar Bharati said.

The initiative will also provide an option to connect with the audience via their dialects.

The existing 1,412 analogue TV transmitters in the country serve about 88 per cent of the population.

"Papa, you go ahead, I will come, let the crowd thin out," 25-year-old Shraddha Varpe told her father as the two tried to make their way out of the Parel railway station in central Mumbai today morning.

Those were her last words. Kishore Varpe, 57, her father, managed to cross the footbridge connecting the Parel and Elphinstone Road railway stations when a deadly stampede began.

He searched for her frantically, only to find that she was among its victims, said a tearful Bhimrao Dhulap, Varpe's close relative who accompanied him to the mortuary of KEM Hospital in the afternoon.

At least 22 lives were lost in the tragedy.

Varpe sat in a corner of the mortuary's waiting area, remembering his daughter's last words and crying.

Both Shraddha and her father worked at the Labour Welfare Board on the Elphinstone road. They travelled to the office together from their house in distant Vitthalwadi in neighbouring Thane district.

They alighted at the Parel station around 10.15 am today and headed for the footbridge which was as usual overcrowded.

Suddenly it started raining, and the crowd on the bridge swelled. Kishore was propelled forward by pressing bodies, while Shraddha was stuck behind, Dhulap said.

Kishore called out to her, and she asked him to go ahead, saying she will wait for the crowd to disperse.

After getting out on other side, Kishore called her on mobile phone, but there was no response. "It was all over in ten minutes, just ten minutes," he said, sobbing uncontrollably.

The country has to face temporary pain for long term gain, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said today on the current economic scenario.

He said the global economy has slowed down and even China is witnessing a slack in its economy, but in the midst of this, India remains a bright spot.

Naidu's comments come in the backdrop of senior BJP leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha launching an attack on the government over handling of the economy.

"The temporary things... there will be some problem. Of course, you have to take temporary pain for long term gain. I am not getting into this arena. There are other people who are debating, using their skills, forgetting what they have done, what has to be done, what needs to be done," Naidu said.

He added that there has to be a broader consensus as far as foreign and economic policies are concerned.

Before getting elected as the vice president, Naidu was among the senior BJP leaders and served as the urban development and information broadcasting minister.

The government has extended the deadline for sale of pre-GST goods with stickers of revised rates by three months to December 31, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.

The decision came after several companies and retailers body CAIT highlighted that they are still left with huge unsold stocks of pre-GST goods and need more time to clear that.

After implementing GST from July 1, the government had allowed use of stickers with revised rates, alongside the printed MRP for pre-packaged items to reflect changes in selling price for three months till September 30.

The unsold items had an MRP which included all taxes of pre-GST era but with the implementation of new regime, some of the final retail prices have undergone change due to increase or decrease in tax incidence.

"On packaged commodities, industry can display revised MRP due to GST implementation using sticker/ stamping/online printing up to December 31 2017", Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan tweeted.

A senior consumer affairs ministry official said the deadline has been extended following demand from several companies like Wipro, HPL and other non-food companies.

Since food items have expiry date for consumption, there were not many representations from such companies, the official added.

Traders body CAIT today claimed that goods worth Rs 6 lakh crore may become redundant if the last date for using MRP-labelled old stock is not extended beyond September 30. -- PTI

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who has backed Yashwant Sinha's criticism of the government's handling of the economy, today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do a "real press conference", saying it is high time he faces the public.

"It's high time and right time that the honourable Prime Minister and head of this democracy comes forward and faces the public, the press for question and answers in a real press conference.

"Hope, wish and pray that our PM will at least once in a while also show that he takes care of the middle class, traders, small businesses all across the country, especially in Gujarat in the wake (sic) of the coming assembly

elections," he tweeted.

Sinha, who has often been at odds with the BJP, also claimed that the observations of former finance minister Yashwant Sinha have been "rapidly gaining strength".

The issue should not be allowed to be turned into a matter between the government and Yashwant Sinha or Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Yashwant Sinha, the film actor-turned-politician said as he asked Modi to address the media.

19:47 Finance Minister Jaitley to speak at Harvard

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will address students of the prestigious Harvard University on a visit to the US next month, the varsity said today.

Jaitley is scheduled to travel to the US in October to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington.

He is also scheduled to visit New York and Boston to interact with the business community and think-tanks.

At Harvard on October 12, the finance minister would deliver the 'Mahindra Lecture' in honour of the late Harish C Mahindra, a distinguished alumnus of Harvard College and a visionary leader of business and industry in India, the South Asia Institute of Harvard University said in its latest newsletter.

A day earlier in Boston, Jaitley will be hosted by the US India Strategic Partnership Forum along with National Infrastructure Investment Fund, and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, for a round table with the industry.

Jaitley's trip to the US has not been officially announced yet.

While in Washington, in addition to addressing the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank, Jaitley is likely to participate in several bilateral and multilateral meetings.

The railways today floated a tender for an additional foot-over-bridge at Elphinston station in Mumbai where 22 people were killed during a stampede on the existing decades-old bridge, senior officials said.

The 40 feet wide FOB was announced in the 2016 railway budget and was part of the Rs 45-crore budget earmarked towards escalators, foot-over-bridges and Automatic Ticket Vending Machines for Mumbai suburban section.

The FOB, to cost approximately Rs 9.5 crore, is expected to be open for commuters by early next year, the officials told PTI.

According to sources in the western railway, the plan to install escalators at 12 locations in six stations and to construct foot bridges at Bhayander, Elphinstone Road, Kandivli, Khar and Virar stations are already underway.

At least 22 persons were killed and over 30 injured in a rush hour stampede on the narrow foot overbridge linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations during heavy rains this morning.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 am during the peak rush hour on the foot-over-bridge connecting Parel railway station, that falls in the central line, with the Elphinstone railway station, which is on the western railway line.

IMAGE: Elphinstone Road railway station. Photograph: Arun Salvi for Rediff.com

While BJP MP from Mumbai East, Kirit Somaiya, has charged that the construction of building or widening the bridge at Elphinstone Road station has been pending since the last 15 years, the Shiv Sena's South Mumbai MP Arvind Sawant too had raised the issue of constructing a 12-metre wide foot over bridge connecting Western Railway and Central Railway lines at the station in a letter to former railway minister Suresh Prabhu.

In response to Sawant's letter, Prabhu, in his letter dated February 20, 2016, stated: 'It has been one of the toughest years for the Indian Railways because of the adverse effects of the global slowdown. Even in these challenging times, the following Railway work in your constituency is under our positive consideration.'

"They have money for bullet trains but not for saving people's lives by improving the railway infrastructure," Sawant remarked today when asked about Prabhu's response.

Sawant said he has been pushing for the construction of this bridge ever since the BJP-led NDA government, of which Sawant's party, the Shiv Sena, is also an ally, came to power in May 2014.

"From 2014 they are talking about shortage of funds. You can get the money for bullet trains but not for this," he said. "The people are angry with this (Union) government. You should have come to the KEM Hospital to see how angry the people are with this government," he concluded.

-- Prasanna D Zore

18:35 DMK may boycott probe into Jaya's death

The DMK is likely to 'boycott' the Judge Arumugaswamy inquiry commission into the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa.

Reason: the DMK's official demand is for a CBI probe into her death. Whichever way one looks at it, the inquiry will have to begin with V K Sasikala, who spent 75 days with Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation between September and December last year.

But the DMK is not too happy at involving Sasikala, and there is a political reason for it. She belongs to the Thevar community which the DMK doesn't want to antagonise. Hence its insistence on a CBI probe and the decision to boycott this inquiry commission.

The sector commanders of the Border Security Force and Pakistani Rangers today held a flag meeting, first in six months, in the Suchetgarh sector in Jammu in the aftermath of the recent cross-border skirmishes.

A spokesman for the Border Security Force said both sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the international border.

"The meeting was held in a cordial and positive atmosphere and both sides agreed to expedite the implementation of the decisions taken in an earlier meeting," he said.

However, he said, the Indian officers made it clear to their Pakistani counterparts that any provocative action would be met by equal or stronger responses.

The 105-minute meeting was held on the request of Pakistan Rangers, the spokesman told PTI.

It was the first Sector Commander-level meeting between the two forces since cross-border clashes escalated two months ago, he said.

The BSF delegation, comprising 17 officers, was led by P S Dhiman, BSF DIG, Jammu Sector. The Sector Commander of Chenab Rangers, Sialkot Punjab, Brig Amjad Hussain, headed the Pakistan delegation of 14 officers, including three Wing Commanders.

The last Sector Commander-level meet between the two forces was held on March 9 2017.

In the meeting today, the spokesman said, the BSF strongly objected to the brutal murder of two BSF soldiers -- constables Brijendra Bahadur and K K Appa Rao -- who were performing their duties along the border.

"The BSF also protested the unprovoked cross-border firing and shelling on a number of Indian border villages leading to the death of a woman in Arnia sector on September 4," he said, adding that infiltration attempts at night were also discussed.

The ruling Bharatiya Janat Party's ally Shiv Sena today dubbed the stampede on a foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road railway station a "massacre", while opposition parties also hit out at the Central and Maharashtra governments over the tragedy.

The non-BJP parties said instead of pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet bullet train project, the Centre should focus on improving safety of passengers and amenities at stations.

"This incident is a public massacre for which the government and railways are responsible. We have time and again demanded that the old and dilapidated foot overbridges be redeveloped but no action has been taken yet," Sena MP Sanjay Raut told PTI.

"While the government has no time to rectify the shortcomings in the present rail system, it wants to bring in bullet trains," he added.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit is part of the BJP-led governments both at the Centre and in Maharashtra, but has been bitterly critical of them on a variety of issues.

Terming the loss of lives in the stampede as unfortunate, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil of the Congress said he had written to the railway ministry last year seeking a meeting of public representatives with the railway minister to solve the issue of overcrowding at stations in Mumbai.

"This incident should be treated as a case of murder. An FIR under IPC section 302 (murder) should be lodged against railway officials," the senior Congress leader said.

"Had the administration worked towards providing basic facilities to commuters, instead of renaming the railway station (Elphinstone) as Prabhadevi, so many lives would not have been lost," Vikhe-Patil added.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said the government, instead of bringing in bullet trains at this stage, should focus on developing stations and

improving passenger safety.

"The Maharashtra government will give Rs 5,000 crore for the bullet train project. Instead, this money should be immediately provided for the development of railway stations in Mumbai," the NCP leader said.

16:13 Nirmala Sitharaman turns down Z Plus security

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has turned down the Z Plus security provided to her.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to her to insist that as a member of the Cabinet Committee on Security, she needs to be provided the highest level of security, but she turned down the offer.

Unfazed, the home ministry has provided her with plainclothesmen, who are stationed in an unobtrusive manner, as security. Military Intelligence too has added to her personal security during her travels outside New Delhi.

Did Nirmala Sitharaman not want to attract any unwanted criticism over the presence of gun-toting commandos, given the internal politics in BJP? Whatever the reason, Rajnath Singh was gracious enough to not insist beyond a point.

That's not all. The defence minister does not also use a bullet-proof car while in New Delhi, but a civilian one with an Army man driving it.

Incidentally, the government bungalow in Delhi that she has been allotted has four or five peacocks, and it's a glorious sight to see them dance during sunsets.

Not that she gets to enjoy the sight often. For Sitharaman attends her office in South Block from 8.30 am till 8.30 pm.

The Shiv Sena, the BJP's ally at the Centre, launched a scathing attack against the BJP after the stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone station in which 22 people died and another 39 were injured.

Sena's Sanjay Raut said, "An inquiry on the Railway Ministry should be initiated. This is a massacre. The Railway Minister should take responsibility for this."

Anand Mahindra also said that his head hangs in shame over the stampede. "As a Mumbaikar, I mourn for the victims & hang my head in shame today. Modernisation must mean safety & security of citizens, not technology."

16:02 Jaitley's quips at Sinha find many admirers

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's phone hasn't stopped buzzing all Friday morning with calls and SMSes congratulating him for the smart turn of phrase he used against Yashwant Sinha, 'a job applicant @ 80'.

On social media, too, the video of his speech where he ripped into Sinha has gone viral.

It is learnt that even officials in the Prime Minister's Office enjoyed Jaitley's quip that he does not have the luxury of being a former finance minister who can write columns criticising the incumbent finance minister.

15:41 Several injured in Peshawar's Ring Road blast

Several people were injured in Peshawar in an explosion at Peshawars Ring Road area on Friday.

Eyewitnesses say someone threw a hand grenade at the pedestrians.

More details are awaited.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will inaugurate the memorial in honour of legendary Tamil thespian Sivaji Ganesan on October one coinciding with his birth anniversary, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said today.

Earlier the government had announced that Information and Publicity Minister 'Kadambur' C Raju would inaugurate the memorial following which the Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Samooga Nala Peravai, a social welfare body run by the actor's fans, said it should be done by the chief minister.

Palaniswami not declaring open the memorial would mean disrespecting the late actor, it had said.

In a statement, Palansiwami said though he desired to inaugurate the memorial following a request made by the actor's family, he would not be able to do so as he would be out of town to take part in other functions that he had already agreed to attend.

He said he had issued orders that the memorial would be inaugurated on October 1 coinciding with the actor's birth anniversary.

15:19

First list of the dead released by KEM Hospital

15:14 Bengal cops yet to receive requests for idol immersion on Muharram

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could emerge victor in a bitter battle with Hindu right-wing organisations over immersion of idols during the states biggest festival, Durga Puja.

Till Friday morning, the police had not received any application from community puja organisers anywhere in the state seeking permission to take out Durga immersion procession on October 1, the day when a section of Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet.

Banerjees government and BJP and its allied organisations are locked in a bitter war of words after the chief minister banned immersion on the day. The BJP accused her of trying to appease the minority community.

A division bench of the Calcutta high court, however, stayed the blanket ban and ruled that immersions should be allowed if the police found that the processions would not jeopardise the law and order situation. The court also ordered the police to identify separate routes for Muharram and Durga puja processions.

Chastised by the court ruling, the state government asked puja organisers to apply to the police sufficiently in advance for obtaining permission for immersions.

A high-level enquiry headed by the Chief Safety Officer of Western Railways has been ordered on Friday in Mumbai stampede which claimed 22 lives.

At least 22 people died and more than 30 were seriously injured on Friday in a stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station.

After the accident, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal reached Mumbai to take stock of the situation.

Later, he said, "I have ordered a high level enquiry headed by the Chief Safety Officer of Western Railways. The team will inquire about the matter and ascertain the cause of the incident."

The railway minister also expressed grief over the tragic incident and sympathised with the families of the deceased.

"I have just landed in Mumbai. It was an unfortunate incident. I am deeply grieved at tragic loss of innocent lives due to unfortunate stampede. I also wish for the early recovery of the injured people," he added.

"Such incident, in my Mumbai, is a matter of concern for me. We will remain committed to ensure that such incidents won't repeat in future," he added.

Photograph: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com

Eleven-year-old Rohit Parab was the youngest of the casualties in Mumbai's stampede at Elphinstone railway station.

According to his parents, he had gone with his older cousin to buy flowers and was on the bridge at the time of the stampede. When the parents tried to call him, the cousin picked up the phone, but it got disconnected.

They could not get in touch with him again and so, they came to KEM Hospital to check if his name was on the casualties list.

14:15

Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray at KEM Hospital to visit the injured after a stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station.

Photograph: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com

14:12 Railway Minister Piyush Goyal visits injured at KEM Hospital

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal visits KEM hospital where the injured are being treated. Goyal is accompanied by Maharashtra's Education Minister Vinod Tawde.

Goyal has ordered a high-level probe into the stampede.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a probe into Friday's stampede which killed 22 people. The chief minister tweeted out saying, "Enquiry will be conducted by government of Maharashtra and Ministry of Railways and necessary, strict action will be taken."

Vinod Tawde, the state health minister also announced a Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of those who died during the stampede in Mumbai.

He added that the government would bear the costs of treatment for those injured in the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal expressed condolences to the families of those who died in the stampede. "We will take all necessary steps to avoid such incidents in future," he said.

At least 22 people were killed and 30 injured in a stampede in Mumbais Elphinstone Railway Station on Friday morning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.

The sad irony is that the tragedy occurred on a day the station was to be formally rechristened as the Prabhadevi Railway Station.

Angry Mumbaikars vented their anger on social media, with many saying the tragedy was waiting to happen given that the city was yet again flooded after heavy rain.

One of the oldest city bridges, the Elphinstone Bridge, has been a topic of debate for some time now.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his condolences after 22 people have died in a stampede at Elphinstone railway station in Mumbai.

The PM wrote, "My deepest condolences to all those who have lost their lives due to the stampede in Mumbai. Prayers with those who are injured. Situation in Mumbai is being continuously monitored. @PiyushGoyal is in Mumbai taking stock of the situation & ensuring all assistance."

13:08

JUST IN: Shortage of blood in KEM Hospital. B- and AB- blood groups needed.

13:07 What happened at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station

Twenty two people died and another 20 are injured after a stampede took place at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station around 10.45 am this morning.

As people keep speculating as to what caused the stampede, Akhilesh Kumar Singh, deputy commissioner of police, Zone III has clarified, When it rained this morning commuters had gathered under a shed on the overbridge. The steps behind the shed were slippery, and some people slid and fell down. Seeing this some people feared the shed was collapsing and rushed out, causing the stampede. It was confusion more than anything.

-- Syed Firdaus Ashraf at Elphinstone station, Mumbai

Image: Scenes at the railway station after the stampede. Photograph: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com

President Ram Nath Kovind tweets after 22 people have died in a stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone Railway station. The President said, "Anguished by the loss of lives in the stampede in Mumbai. Condolences to the bereaved families; prayers with injured."

The tragedy took place amid rain in the city around 10.40 am when the FOB was heavily crowded, a police official said.

Shiv Sena-run BMC blames the Railways for the unfortunate tragedy, says railway infrastructure is their responsibility.

Launching a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, Shiv Sena MLA Ajay Choudhary says the government is not able to provide basic facilities and services at stations but dreams of bullet trains.

12:37

KEM Hospital Helpline for todays Mumbais railway stampede is 022-24107000

12:36 UPDATE:Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to visit stampede site

Following the tragedy that took place at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station, the Western Railways public relations officer has confirmed that Railway Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the stampede site.

"It's an unfortunate incident. Railway Min Piyush Goyal will definitely visit the site," he was quoted as saying to a news channel.

Meanwhile, reports are coming in that people are shouting slogans against the rail ministry.

Also, trains on the Western line are running 15 to 20 minutes late.

The death toll in the stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone Railway station has increased to 15. Earlier reports had stated that 3 were killed and 15 were injured.

The stampede took place around 10.30 am when people suddenly rushed to seek refuge on the bridge as the city experienced heavy rains.

Western Railway officials have rushed to the spot to monitor relief and rescue operations.

The Western Railways PRO has tweeted, "During heavy rains, due to stampede like situation on North Foot Over Bridge at Elphinsten Road station about 10.30 am. Accident Relief Medical train has reached and medical assistance being provided to injured. Senior Railway officers have reached the station FOB to monitor relief work ."

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

11:48

The stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station has taken place on the same day that Railway Minister Piyush Goyal will be in the city to flag off 100 new trains on Mumbai suburban network of Western Railway and Central Railway zones.

11:46 People started falling over each other like dominoes: Witness at Elphinstone station

Miitesh Jethva, a regular commuter told Firstpost that sudden rains caught commuters by surprise which triggered panic at the foot-over bridge.

"There is usually a huge rush at the station everyday, but because of the rains people wanted shelter and there was a sudden huge rush at the bridge. In no time, people soon started falling over each other like dominoes. The incident happened at 10.45 am."

Reports are coming in that three people have died and over 20 people have been injured at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station's foot-over bridge around 10.45 am

People at the station claim the heavy rains was the cause of the stampede. Images are coming in of people hanging from the top of the foot-over bridge.

According to reports, the injured are being rushed to nearby hospitals.

More details are awaited.

Photograph courtesy: @Raajeev_romi/Twitter

11:20

JUST IN: Stampede at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station's foot over bridge. More than 20 people injured.

More details awaited

11:07 'PM should face the people, answer questions on economy'

After backing BJP veteran Yashwant Sinha's searing critique of the economy and the government's decisions, the party's Shatrughan Sinha today directed a series of tweets at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It's high time and right time that the honourable PM and head of this democracy comes forward and faces the public and the press for question answers, in a real press conference," posted the outspoken Shatrughan Sinha, commenting that PM Modi must do so "especially in Gujarat" where polls will be held later this year.

The actor-turned-politician also cautioned that the matter of economic slowdown should not be diluted by reducing it to a matter between the government and Yashwant Sinha. The former actor was also not in favour of pitting Yashwant Sinha against Arun Jaitley.

He ended by tweeting, "Long live BJP/NDA, Jai Bihar, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Gujarat and Jai Hind."

On Thursday, the Patna Sahib MP in a series of tweets said that Yashwant Sinha was a true statesman and that his comments were in the interest of both the party and the nation.

Actors Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu today welcomed their first child, a baby girl.

Kemmu took to Twitter to share the news with his fans and followers.

"We are over the moon to share we have been blessed with a beautiful baby girl on this auspicious day. Thank you for the love and blessings," the 34-year-old actor wrote.

Soha, 38, and Kunal got engaged in July 2014 in Paris and tied the knot in Mumbai on January 25, 2015.

Soha announced her pregnancy in April 2017.

Also see their babymoon in London!

10:32 "PM Modi, Will I Lose My Job?" Ravish Kumar

NDTV India journalist Ravish Kumar has written a scathing letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticising him for following people who use abusive and threatening language on social media.

Read his full open letter to the PM HERE

The Indian Army commandos participating in last year's surgical strike on terrorists' launchpads in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir livestreamed the entire operation back to army headquarters in Udhampur and Delhi, the officer-in-charge of the operation has revealed.

"Yes, we were getting the images live. I was sitting in the operations room in our command headquarter in Udhampur. I saw the entire operation live how our teams attacked the targets, and the entire live feed was being sent to Delhi Army Headquarters," former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Indian Army's Northern Command Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retired) said.

Asked who all in Delhi were watching the live feed, Hooda said: "I don't know who were watching in Delhi. In Udhampur, we were watching and the feed was going to Delhi too."

Giving details of the strike, Hooda said the last team of special forces returned at around 6.30 a.m.

"Some teams arrived earlier. They had left earlier and had struck at targets soon after midnight, while some other teams went in later and returned late."

"There was panic in the ranks of Pakistani forces. In some places, they were firing randomly. We had also planned a backup. If any team failed to return, we had teams ready to go in, retrieve and rescue and bring them back," Hooda, who had planned the strikes, revealed.

Read: The General in charge of the surgical strikes

A class 4 student of Ryan International School in Ludhianas Jamalpur was allegedly beaten up by two teachers inside a classroom.

The student was not just slapped by the teachers but was also beaten by a stick and a case has been registered following the complaint lodged by his parents, the report added.

The parents of the child alleged that one of the teachers had threatened to beat him up again if he informed anyone about the incident.

My son Mansukh (10) was allegedly beaten by a male and female teacher after a fight with another student, told Jaswinder Singh, resident of Ahata Mohammad Tayar area.

My son had a fight with another child on Wednesday. The teacher called the mothers of both the children and my wife also went. On Thursday, he was again thrashed in school with stick and slapped repeatedly. He was not telling this to us. He did not say a word. It was only when he was changing his clothes that we noticed red marks on his entire body including neck, hands, legs, chest and back. He was beaten by two teachers including a male and a female, Singh said.

However, responding to the incident, Principal of the school rejected the claims saying that the child was not even touched by any teacher.

With Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh being a prisoner with high threat perception, authorities are taking no chances while serving him food inside Rohtaks Sunaria jail.

The food being given to the convicted dera head is tasted for its safety before being served and the entire process is videographed. Further, samples taken from each food item are preserved for 48 hours.

We have to be very careful about his security because of the threat perception to his life, even inside the jail. Intelligence agencies have already given their inputs in this regard, an official of Haryana Prisons Department was quoted as saying.

08:59 I too need to speak up

Yashwant Sinhas recent article (I need to speak up now, IE, September 27) about the economy concludes more in hope, than on facts, that the economy is headed for a hard landing.

He joins some others in a desperate attempt to build a narrative of a failing economy. This is wishful thinking because nothing is further from the truth.

Read Rajeev Chandrasekhar's full column HERE

Banaras Hindu University's newly appointed chief proctor Royona Singh the first woman to hold the post in the institute's 101-year-old history -- is categorical that there should be no restriction on dress and alcohol for female students at BHU, or ban on non-vegetarian food in the messes.

"I was born in Europe. I frequently travel to Europe and Canada. Putting a dressing restriction on girls would be like imposing it on myself. You start your day at 6 am and end at 10.30 pm, and if you still can't wear what you feel comfortable in, then it is a shame in this era. I find it strange when boys use the words 'skimpily clad'. If a girl feels comfortable in what she wears, what's their objection?" she said.

She reiterated that the varsity had never imposed any restrictions on women in the past and would not do so in the future. "As far as drinking is concerned, all girls here are above 18, why should we even impose such a thought on them?" she asked.

She regretted the remarks by the warden and security staff to the molestation survivor and her friends that they should not step out of their hostels after 6pm. The incident had led to arson and clashes between BHU students and police, injuring several.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is visiting Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to review the preparedness of the soldiers on borders and security in the hinterland.

The two-day visit would be her first since she assumed office as the defence minister of the country.

Sources in the ministry said Sitharaman will visit forward posts on the line of controlin the Valley, the line of actual control between India and China in the Ladakh region and the Siachen Glacier -- worlds highest battle field at an altitude 5,400 metres during the visit.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat is likely to accompany the Defence Minister during her J-K visit, sources said.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, famous for her roles in Veep and Seinfeld, announced she has breast cancer in a post on her official Twitter account.

"One in eight women get breast cancer. Today, I'm the one," Louis-Dreyfus wrote.

The 56-year-old actress went on to say "The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union."

"The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let's fight all cancers and make universal healthcare a reality," she concluded.

Hillary Clinton was one of the many celebrities who sent out their love and support to the 56-year-old Veep star through Twitter.

The 69-year-old politician wrote: "Julia, you're in our thoughts and our hearts. Inspired but not surprised to see you using your platform for good in this difficult moment.'

The news comes on the heels of what has been a triumphant year for Louis-Dreyfus.

She broke the record for the most Emmys won by a performer for a single role earlier this month, after snagging her sixth consecutive win for lead actress in a comedy for her work on HBO's Veep.

It was her seventh statue in that category overall as she had previously won in 2006 for "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

Shortly after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, without taking names, described him as a job applicant@80, senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha responded Thursday saying if I was a job applicant, he (Jaitley) would not be there in the first place.

Jaitley took a swipe at Sinha over his opinion piece, published in The Indian Express Wednesday, in which he blamed the minister for the mess in the economy.

Sinha wrote that the economy is in a downward spiral, its revival unlikely by the 2019 elections and a hard landing appears inevitable. He claimed that his views were shared by many people in the party who were not speaking up out of fear.

The former finance minister also slammed what he felt were efforts by the government to pit his son Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, against him on the issue of the handling of the economy.

Pakistan on Thursday dodged a question on the recent photograph gaffe by its top diplomat in the United Nations General Assembly, saying the incident cannot be used to deny an "indisputable fact" that Indian security forces were using pellet guns in Kashmir.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, on the floor of the UN General Assembly on Saturday, held up a photograph of an injured Gaza girl whose face was peppered with alleged pellets and portrayed it as a Kashmiri pellet gun victim.

Asked about his reaction to the gaffe, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Nafess Zakaria side-stepped the question at the weekly briefing here and instead blamed Indian security forces for blinding Kashmiris.

"India cannot deny around 80 Kashmiris completely blinded deliberately by its forces and blinding of over 200 innocent Kashmiris in one eye," he claimed.

"India cannot deny injuring thousands of Kashmiris using pellet guns... It is an indisputable fact," Zakaria claimed.

He also accused India of playing the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan and under the garb of development assistance using the country's soil to carry out subversive activities inside Pakistan.

"We have evidence to this effect, which was shared with the US, the Secretary General of the UN and also with the Afghan authorities," Zakaria said.

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