New Delhi:

Days after a stampede at Mumbai’s Bandra Terminus railway station left 10 people injured, CCTV footage shows passengers jostling to board an unreserved train just moments before, causing complete chaos on the platform.

The stampede took place when large crowds tried to board the 22-coach unreserved Bandra-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express, which arrived from the railway yard around 2.44 am on Sunday. Such crowds are a common sight during the festive season.

The security footage, purportedly from a CCTV camera on the north end of platform no 1 at Bandra Terminus, showed many passengers losing their footing while trying to board the train. It also shows a crush of passengers trying to enter the train before it comes to a complete halt; some are seen trying to squeeze in through an emergency exit window. The visuals do not show the stampede.

The Western Railway is operating more than 130 festival special trains for various destinations, especially Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals.

Platform ticket sales have been restricted at Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra Terminus, Borivali, Vasai Road, Vapi, Valsad, Udhna, and Surat stations in the Mumbai Division to reduce platform crowding and ensure smooth passenger movement.

The Northern Railways urged passengers to arrive at least an hour before their train’s scheduled departure to avoid last-minute congestion and ensure a smooth boarding process.