Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is an ecosystem in itself, with commuters, stall owners and taxi drivers sharing space in the bustling zone.
And for all these people, time stood still on Thursday evening.
Arogyanathan
Arogyanathan, a Hyderabad resident who had come to Mumbai on work on Thursday, was shaken up by the bridge collapse. “I was walking from CSMT towards Kalbadevi when I heard something falling. I thought it’s a portion of some poster. I realised later the bridge had collapsed,” he said. Mr. Arogyanathan will take the next train out of the city on Saturday.
Puran Ram (34), who was working at RB Snacks Corner near the station, said, “I was serving tea to a customer when I heard a loud noise. I looked out and saw slabs collapsing one by one. All of us ran out. We saw people writhing in pain under the debris.”
Mohammad Akhtar Ansari, a taxi driver who was travelling from Churchgate towards Mahim, took a left turn at the Times of India building when debris crashed on his taxi. A woman was in the rear seat. Both escaped unhurt, but the taxi was badly damaged. “The signal ahead had turned green, owing to which many cars had passed under the bridge already,” he said.
Mohammad Akhtar Ansari
Call it a coincidence, but Mr. Ansari’s was the only vehicle that had still to pass under the bridge.
Then there were those who happened to be there at the time of the collapse, but stayed on to help rescue people stuck in the debris. Ambulance attendant Mithun Sathe (28), said, “I ferried at least six people to St. George Hospital. Some had head injuries, others had injuries on their limbs.”
Anmol Prajapati, a passerby, was coming towards the site when he heard of the incident. “I ferried two injured on my Activa to G.T. Hospital as there was a traffic jam at various locations and ambulances were struggling to reach the spot,” Mr. Prajapati said.
As with all other tragedies in the city, they proved that the well-known Mumbai resilience was thriving.
